Young Asian woman in bed looking sleepily at laptop with sticky notes on back

8 Advantages of Starting Your College Search Early

Senior year is stressful for most students. Make it a little easier by starting your college search early in high school. Here are eight reasons why!

If you’re wondering when the best time to start the college search process is, you’re not alone. While early in your high school career may feel a little premature, it’s actually a great time to dive in and begin exploring post-secondary options. Just remember to keep your stress levels low and enjoy the process. Here are eight advantages of starting the college search early. 

1. Senior year is stressful enough

If you have an older sibling or friend, there’s a good chance you already know how stressful senior year can be. Between athletics, extracurricular activities, work, difficult course loads, dances, senior pictures, and class meetings, balancing all the to-dos from September to June is a full-time job. But if you do the majority of your college research during the first two to three years of high school, you’ll have more time to devote to filling out college applications and finishing your admission essays come senior year.

2. Get to know your school counselor's office

In many high schools, the counselor's office is considered the hub of the school. This is where you’ll spend the majority of your time during the second semester of your junior year and a good chunk of your senior year completing all the requirements for college admission. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to get to know the counselors and support staff. They will be the ones helping you choose your classes, request transcripts, and apply for scholarships, supporting you along the way.

Related: When to Ask Your School Counselor These Questions

3. Learn from an older classmate

If you’re taking steps to learn all you can about college in your sophomore or junior year, one valuable thing to do is partner with an older classmate as they complete their applications. Learning through watching is one of the best ways to make sense of all the nuances of the college search and application process. If you have a senior friend, ask if you can observe them while they complete parts of their applications. Take notes and ask questions so you can develop a cheat sheet to help you when it’s your time.

4. Maximize your academics

Spending a few hours researching colleges in the summer before or during your freshman year can pay off exponentially later on. Having a general understanding of college entrance requirements early in the game can help you plan your high school schedule. Research both private and public colleges in your state and make a list of the courses needed to meet the minimum requirements. Then meet with your high school counselor to review the list and map out a plan for the courses you should take.

Related: Tips for Choosing Your Senior Year Schedule

5. Come up with a financial plan

Once the shock of a school’s sticker price wears off, you can start thinking about how to pay for college. Starting your search early means you’ll have a better understanding of college costs and the various ways to fund your education. Carve out some time to learn about scholarships and financial aid. Take notes about application requirements and important deadlines for loans, grants, and scholarships. Sophomore or junior year is also a great time to talk with your family about any contributions they plan on making. Having a clear picture of the amount of money available and how much you may need in loans or scholarships will help you make realistic decisions about where to apply.

6. Visit college campuses

One of the top reasons to start your college search early is to allow enough time to take a few campus visit road trips. The purpose of these trips is to get a feel for each school and decide if they’ll make the final cut. Ideally, you will have visited each college you’re considering before you apply during your senior year.

Related: 3 College Visit Locations That Can Be Turned Into Vacations

7. Time to take standardized tests

There’s nothing worse than deciding to take the ACT or SAT at the last minute. Not only does it cost you more, but it also leaves you with less time to prepare. In order to do well on these costly exams, you’ll want to prepare, take practice tests, and talk with your teachers about any gaps you may have in study material.

8. Round out your life outside of school

Your high school years aren’t just about what you learn in school. This is also a time to explore your interests, get involved with a volunteer opportunity, play sports, get a job, or participate in school-sponsored activities. Most colleges will want to know about your life outside of high school, so why not set yourself up for success now?

Related: How to Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities in High School

Wait—I’m already a senior!

Let’s make one thing clear: While there are many advantages of starting early, it’s never too late to start your college search! While there may be a few steps you’ll need to fast-track, the good news is senior year isn’t too late to consider college. Depending on the time of year, you may still have time to apply  as long as you’ve met the admission requirements. If deadlines have passed or you’re not able to meet the minimum requirements, looki at community colleges. Make an appointment with an advisor at a local college to discuss your options. Community colleges offer a variety of programs and paths for students to start working on undergraduate requirements. Starting late doesn't mean not starting at all! College is in your future. 

Get started on your college search and scholarship search today right here on CollegeXpress!

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Sara Lindberg

Sara Lindberg

Sara Lindberg is a freelance writer and former secondary school counselor. She has a Master of Education in Counseling and 20 years of experience working with middle and high school students and their parents. 

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY


Katelyn

Katelyn

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress gave me options of schools with my major and from there I was able to pick what was most important to me in a school. Everything was so organized that I could see all the information I needed.

Caitlin Eaton

Caitlin Eaton

$10,000 Scholarship Winner, 2021

I first discovered CollegeXpress during my sophomore year of high school while researching colleges that interested me. My SAT prep class the following year further familiarized me with the opportunities available through the organization. CX has personally helped me by exposing me to a diverse selection of schools as well as scholarships and life tips that have provided valuable guidance in my college search.

This scholarship will help me adjust to college life without worrying as much about tuition. This gives me more room to truly explore and benefit from all aspects of higher education. I plan to study Conservation Biology and work protecting species/ecosystems. I’m looking forward to getting field experience and seeing firsthand the problems research is solving.

Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has been a huge help! The website is very organized with finding the right scholarship for anyone and anything. With CollegeXpress, I've been able to find many scholarship opportunities to apply for. Not only that, I'm also able to search for the colleges I have interest in and see what’s required and what scholarships they offer. I've learned a lot from CollegeXpress. They've helped me in many ways to achieve my goals!

Sadie Hartmann

Sadie Hartmann

High School Class of 2021

I'm a senior in high school, and CollegeXpress has helped me in so many ways this year in trying to navigate the process of deciding and committing to a university. The COVID-19 Student Resource Center has helped me many times with the most up-to-date and accurate information, along with financial aid and student life [advice]. During these uncertain times, CollegeXpress has been a great recourse to relieve the stress as a senior. Along with the COVID-19 Student Resource Center, I'm constantly using the extremely helpful tools off the site to aid me during this stressful process. Tools like the lists and rankings of universities have been the most beneficial. I've also used the site to receive expert advice on topics like financial aid. Finally, CollegeXpress has helped me easily apply for several scholarships. I'm thankful to be given the chance to win a scholarship to lessen the burden of my college debt.

Heaven Johnson

Heaven Johnson

Back to School Scholarship Winner, High School Class of 2023

I’d like to thank everyone on the CollegeXpress team for their generosity. Not only have I been awarded this scholarship, but CollegeXpress makes it easier to apply and gives amazing tips for schools and scholarships. I am extremely grateful as this will help with my schooling and allow me to be able to enter into the field I’ve been dreaming of all my life.