Click here to read how High School is Different from College!

For those of you anxious students who are already worried over college, and even for those who aren’t, I have a few tips. It’s never too early to start thinking about life after high school, and even though most of you are still begging your parents for rides to the mall, real life will be here sooner than you think. Even as a freshman, there are a number of things you can start working on. Get ahead of the game- you won’t regret it.

• Jaye Herrod Sophomore Music Education Major

  Begin forming a list of possibilities. What are your interests? Look into schools that will challenge you in those areas. As a freshman you are definitely not required to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life, but at least start thinking about it.
• If you have absolutely no idea what you are looking for in a college, visit your high school guidance counselor. Part of his/her job is to make sure you find the right place after high school. Your guidance counselor can give you tests to help you find your strengths and interests and give you information on schools that might suit you.
• For information on a great school, contact the University of Mobile. The best way to do this is through this website. Click here to ask questions, find information, and get to know the school.
• Find out the GPA, or grade point average, required for admittance and scholarship eligibility for the schools you are interested in and work toward that. Your GPA is cumulative, meaning it adds up all four years. If you slack off your freshman year, your GPA will reflect that for the rest of your high school career.
• Get involved at school. Join the clubs and organizations that interest you. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students. Taking part in extra-curricular activities will benefit you while in high school and also provide you with experience that you may find useful in college.
• It’s never too early to start taking the ACT and SAT tests. Even if your first score is lower than you would like, don’t be discouraged. You still have time to bring it up. Prep classes and practice tests can be helpful. The ACT and SAT websites provide practice problems and useful test-taking tips (www.ACT.org and www.SAT.org ).
• Don’t worry! You have plenty of time to get ready for college. There’s no rush, but getting an early start will take off a lot of pressure down the road.

Click here to read how High School is Different from College!

It’s your second year of high school. Maybe you have started to think about college - maybe not. You have probably tried to comfort yourself with the fact that you still have 3 years left at home, but believe me, they go fast. I’m not saying it’s time to start shopping for your own bath towels and microwaveable meals, but don’t live in denial. Your senior year will be here soon along with a big decision. Here are some ways you can get a head start.

• Make sure you are maintaining a good GPA. You will appreciate it when it comes time to apply for college admission and scholarships.
• Keep working on your ACT and SAT scores. I’m not recommending taking the tests every time they are offered - that would get a little expensive - but practice tests and sample problems will help you prepare for taking the actual exams.
• Continue taking part in extracurricular activities. Colleges will ask you to describe your involvement on your application for admission, and this is a great way to show them what a wonderful addition you would be to their school!

• Jaye Herrod Sophomore Music Education Major

  Start attending events on the college campus. The University of Mobile offers several opportunities throughout the school year:
  1. Concerts - we had Big Daddy Weave, David Crowder, Shane and Shane, and more visit us this year.
  2. Sporting Events - come support the Rams’ Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Golf, Tennis and Soccer, Baseball, Softball and Volleyball.
  3. Summer camps - we offer music and athletic camps on the UM campus during the summer.
     Check out the rest of the University of Mobile website for more information on all of these activities.

• Talk to your guidance counselor. There are scholarship opportunities out there for sophomores and he/she will be able to tell you about those, as well as provide you with information on the colleges you are interested in.
• If you'd like to start thinking about a college major, click here for more information.
• Don’t start losing sleep over this decision yet… that will come later. You will make the process easier on yourself, though, by getting started now!

Click here to read how High School is Different from College!

Alright, it’s time to get serious. Colleges have begun to acknowledge your existence, so make sure to brush your hair and tuck your shirt in, ’cause they’re watching you! Ok, not really, but colleges are beginning to take interest in your accomplishments. By this point you should be narrowing down your alternatives and have a pretty clear idea of what these colleges expect from their applicants. Here are a few things to make sure you are on top of this year.

• Keep in contact with your guidance counselor. Scholarship opportunities are often available for juniors and he/she will have the information needed to apply. Your guidance counselor will also be able to write recommendations for scholarship and admissions applications.
• Start working on your resume. You will need to give this to teachers and administrators that you ask to write recommendation letters. This will give them the information they need to know about you in order to write a good recommendation (those are always nice!). Be sure to include any extracurricular activities you take part in, any major accomplishments, honors courses, leadership positions, etc.

• Jaye Herrod Sophomore Music Education Major

  Stay organized. Colleges will be sending you a lot of letters and brochures that you need to keep track of. You might want to make a folder for each school you are interested in to avoid losing important information.
• Keep attending events on the college campus. The University of Mobile offers a Preview Day for juniors and seniors in high school. This will help you to get to know the campus and what we are all about. For more information on the University of Mobile Preview days, click here.
• Don’t get lazy! Your GPA is still very important and colleges have begun to take note of it. Keep it up… you are almost there.
• Continue to work on your ACT and SAT scores. Different schools require different tests for admission, so make sure to find out which test, if not both, you need to take. Keep practicing and working toward the goals you have set for yourself. And don’t forget to send your scores to the University of Mobile!
• Click here for information on careers and college majors.
• Your time in high school is growing short. Don’t wish it away; it will be gone soon enough. Enjoying your senior year will be a lot easier if you start taking care of these things now.

Click here to read how High School is Different from College!

It’s go time, guys. This is the point that you have been anxiously awaiting since the day you found out your annoying little brother isn’t allowed in college. Don’t worry; you’ll be missing the little monster pretty soon. The time to make your final decision is quickly approaching, so hopefully you have been doing your homework.

• Take your final ACT and SAT tests. Make sure you have done the best you possibly can, and have your scores sent to the University of Mobile.
• Send in your application. This is quite an important step in the process, obviously. If you forget to apply, they will forget to accept you, and you will forget to get into college… oops! Click here to apply online for admission to the University of Mobile.
• Have your high school transcripts sent to the University of Mobile. Most of the time, this can be done through your high school registrar.
• Scope out the teachers/administrators you will ask to write recommendations needed for college applications and scholarship eligibility. Make sure you ask them several weeks in advance, tell them exactly what you need from them, and be polite!
• Talk to your guidance counselor for scholarship information. There is a lot of money out there waiting to be claimed by someone willing to take the time and apply. Take advantage of these opportunities.
• Find out about any activities taking place on college campuses. The University of Mobile offers Preview Days for juniors and seniors in high school interested in learning more about the college. There are also several concerts and other activities as well as athletic events taking place at UM throughout the year. Check out the calendar of events here.

• Jaye Herrod Sophomore Music Education Major

  Fill out the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ . The sooner you take care of this the better. This need-based form determines your eligibility for federal aid and can help a great deal with college tuition. Have the results sent to the University of Mobile.
• Stay organized. Keep track of all of the information colleges are sending you.
• Make your decision! Sounds easy enough, right? Once you start receiving acceptance letters, notify the schools you have decided against and, more importantly, the school you have chosen to attend.
• Decide whether you want to live at home, or at school. If you decide to live on campus, fill out your residence forms as soon as possible to ensure the dorm and roommate of your choice. Click here to see your UM virtual dorm room and design it yourself!
• Keep in contact with the University of Mobile for registration information, scholarship requirements, or campus events you are encouraged to attend.
• You’ve made it! It’s time to start preparing to leave the only family you have ever known and move to a completely foreign place full of strange people. Oh, don’t worry… I made it, you will too.