• Pre-College Plan
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Extracurriculars
    • Testing
  • Admissions
    • The Common App
    • Supplemental Info
    • Early Decision & Early Action
  • Your Application
    • Your Transcript
    • Test Scores
    • Extracurriculars
    • Recommendations
    • Essay/Personal Statement
  • Choosing
    • What to Consider
  • The Visit
    • Preparations
    • What to Ask
    • The Ideal Visit
  • Financial Aid
  • Checklists
    • 8th Grade
    • 9th Grade
    • 10th Grade
    • 11th Grade
    • 12th Grade
  • Resources

Building Your Pre-College Plan

Applying to college can seem overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider, a lot of rumors about what matters, and a lot of stress trying to figure out what school you want to go to—not to mention getting into that school. Having a plan in place makes the whole process easier.

Taking the time to create a pre-college plan is a great way to reduce college prep stress. Plus, you will learn valuable organizational and time management skills while you are at it. Think of it this way: where you choose to go to college is the first big decision you will ever make about the direction of your life. That means it is a decision that deserves a lot of thought and is well worth planning ahead for. If you start now, you will have a lot more college options when the time comes to actually apply. So get started now incorporating college prep into your life.

Use the information in this section—whether you are in middle school or in high school—to start choosing appropriate classes and activities now so you don’t get caught unaware, or lacking the courses you need, when the time to apply to your dream school comes.

Don’t sell yourself short. Ever. On resumes, colleges want to see everything you’re capable of doing and have done. With your passions and talents, don’t let self-doubt stop you from growing and getting better. -Tyler T., Duke TIP alum

Student TIPs

As you move through middle and high school, your future career plans and interests will likely change. That’s a good thing! The closer you can get to figuring out what you are truly passionate about, the better your choice of college and major is likely to be. So don’t worry if you need to stop and adjust your pre-college plan every year or so. Now’s the perfect time to experiment. And even if you are still undecided about your major when you enter college—that’s okay. You’ll have the opportunity to narrow your interests in your early years and make the choice that's right for you.

Parent TIPs

Your role during the college planning process is to stay informed, encourage realistic expectations, assist with setting goals, and lend support to relieve any stress they may be feeling. This is especially true if you are the parent of a gifted student who is a perfectionist. By encouraging your children to plan ahead and make a methodical college plan, you are also helping them develop essential non-academic abilities, such as strong study habits, organizational strengths, and time management skills. These traits will make all the difference in their ability to succeed in college and beyond.

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