9th-11th Grade Admissions
It's Never Too Early to Start Your College Journey
The college process can be overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn鈥檛 have to be if you start early. Whether you desire to pursue a singular academic focus, compete for a national title, or help to serve and lead campus organizations, we want to make sure you are set up to achieve your goals.
The time you spend in college becomes some of the most formative and exciting years of your life. As one of the leading Christian liberal arts colleges in the country, we seek to help you discover where you fit best academically, socially, spiritually and in other areas you consider important. The guides below are for you, so that you can start taking steps towards a successful future NOW!
Guaranteed Admission Partnerships
蜜桃传媒 recognizes that many students are enrolled in high schools across the country that share our philosophy of academic rigor, our commitment to the Christian faith and investment in whole-student development. We are proud to share this mission with our secondary education partners, and we鈥檙e pleased to guarantee admission to students meeting high standards from select schools.
9th Grade Students
Affording College
The cost of college can appear daunting. But it can be more manageable than you imagine. Few students pay the full cost of attending 蜜桃传媒. Want the full picture on making college affordable? Watch our video full of financial tips to see how affording college starts now in your first year in high school.
Setting Yourself Up For Academic Success
Preparing for academic success in college begins now while you鈥檙e still in high school. Set your sights high by planning to take challenging courses in the next few years. Forging this path will make you a better student, not just a student with a better application.
Challenge Yourself
Embracing the challenge always pays off. Yes, your grades matter to colleges. But it鈥檚 more important to stretch yourself and tackle more than you think you can accomplish. You may well surprise yourself. Plus, the added challenge leads to growth, another valuable benefit.
Be Curious
Curious people become interesting people, and interesting people make intriguing applicants. The way you invest in your interests now will have a big impact on the person you are when you begin college. At 蜜桃传媒, we鈥檙e looking for students with far more than just good grades.
10th Grade Students
Start Visiting Colleges
Make your college search easy rather than daunting. Start by visiting a few colleges as a sophomore just to see what鈥檚 out there. You鈥檒l soon notice what appeals to you. You鈥檝e just begun your college search!
Learn some good tips for college visits with Grace, one of our Admissions Counselors!
Learn about college from alumni around you.
What is college like? Ask people who鈥檝e been there. You can take the mystery out of college by talking to the people you know who are enrolled or have attended. Ask them what they liked and what they would do differently if they could go back and start over.
Say Yes!
You can get ready for college by simply saying, 鈥淵es,鈥� when opportunities arise. Sign up for a challenging class, apply for a leadership position in a club, or participate in a unique experience such as 蜜桃传媒's Trailhead program. Make the most of the options in your life鈥攜ou may be surprised where they take you.
Talk with those around you.
You鈥檝e got a secret weapon in your college search: the people who know you best. Whether it鈥檚 your parents, siblings or best friends, those closest to you can give you great advice about what to look for in a college and how to find the right one for you. Go ahead, ask them.
11th Grade Students
What are you looking for in a college?
You want to find the college that best fits you, a place where you can thrive in all aspects of your life. Ask yourself some questions: What environment helps me be myself? In what areas do I want to be challenged to grow? Which parts of college life matter to me: academics, social life, spiritual life, location, etc.?
Taking Standardized Tests
How do colleges use standardized test scores? In fact, these scores play only a small role in determining admission as they provide limited information about you and your potential for success. The work you put into your classes for three to four years matters much more. The character you鈥檙e developing that helps you tackle the unique pressures and challenges of college also counts. So relax, give exams your all, but put them in the proper perspective.
Finding a college that fits you well.
Sometimes we need the help of someone close to us to understand who we truly are. When searching for your college home, ask for input from people who know you well: your parents, mentors, grandparents, and friends. What do they think would suit you best?
You have to see it for yourself.
Visiting gives you the best insight into a college鈥檚 culture and atmosphere and whether it fits you. Be indiscriminate about the colleges you visit early in your search to help you see the diversity out there. You can also hone in on the aspects of a college that appeal to you most.
Explore your financial aid options.
Need help paying for college? Here鈥檚 a helpful tip: third-party scholarships can be an untapped resource. Go to fastweb.com and create a profile. Review some of the applications that surface. Type in your answers and save them. If you鈥檙e prepared, you can fill out a lot of applications quickly and easily in your senior year. Every year a few students bring a lot of outside scholarships to Westmont. You can do that too!
Think about registering for college entrance exams.
Get ready to take standardized tests. Does that sound intimidating? It doesn鈥檛 have to, especially this year. Taking an exam as a junior lowers the pressure. You can experience the test without worrying about your score. You鈥檒l learn a lot between now and the fall of your senior year, when you鈥檒l take the test again. You鈥檒l be ready to nail it!
Start planning some college visits!
Road trip! The summer after your junior year is a great time to visit several colleges. Plan to tour all the schools you think you may apply to. Bring along a journal or open a new set of notes on your phone. With each visit, write down your impressions: what you liked, what you didn鈥檛, how you felt on campus, and more. You've heard this before, but visiting colleges is so important to your decision. Keep your notes handy and review them when you make a decision in your senior year.
You're almost there!
Congratulations on being so close to finishing your junior year! When the semester ends, take advantage of summer programs like 蜜桃传媒's Trailhead at colleges you鈥檙e considering or sign up for an internship to help you explore what you鈥檇 like to study. You can also use this time to strengthen your testing skills or practice and prepare for writing your college essays!
