Skills for college

Juniors: Researching Yourself as You Research Colleges

 

As you work on your initial list of colleges, you need to research yourself as well as the colleges. Because college is a learning environment, you will need to honestly evaluate yourself as a student in order to figure out what schools are best for you.

First, consider your academic record. Keep in mind that there are no "right" answers. You're just mining for information. Here are some questions to help you begin:

What is your GPA? What is the highest GPA reported by your school?

Are you challenging yourself in the classroom with advanced classes, such as AP’s?

What is the most intellectually engaging class you have taken in high school? Why? How did it influence you?

What do you choose to learn when you learn on your own? Consider what topics you choose for research papers, lab reports, or independent reading.

What subjects have you excelled in?

What has been your greatest academic success?

What are your weaknesses academically?

When you have struggled in your class work, what did you do about it?

How do you respond to academic pressure?