The spring semester has arrived. Graduation will be here before you know it. Freshman will become sophomores, juniors will become seniors…what’s most important, college prep is becoming a hot topic, specifically for juniors and seniors.
Jayme Spexarth, transition coordinator, is helping students enroll in dual credit ACC classes and seniors apply to college.
So what should juniors and seniors be working on right now to prep for college? Spexarth said seniors should be wrapping up their college applications and scholarship processes. Juniors should be making their list of colleges they would like to apply for. Juniors can start sending in their college applications as early as Aug. 1 —before senior year even starts. Right now, though, juniors should be signing up for the SAT and ACT.
“SAT and ACT testing is all year long,” Spexarth said. “But right now, testing season is in full swing for the juniors.”
Intimidating tests, scary applications, compiling lists, how do students keep track of it all?
Spexarth is there to help students through the process.
“My job is to be there for support,” Spexarth said. “Support, reminders and direction when they don’t know the next step.”
Senior Allyssa Rodrquez said Mrs. Spexarth guided her through two essays, her resume and the logistics of her application.
Spexarth said hundreds of students successfully go to college and build their careers.
Junior Destiny Vasquez and Rodriquez are are working toward college with great anticipation. Both want to study psychology and work with children.
Vasquez said she wants to be accepted to UCLA after two years at UTSA. She is really working in her AP classes, SAT and ACT, and “juicing up her resume by taking a lot of hard core classes.”
“I want it to be over with. I want to get it done right away,” said Vasquez. “The idea of getting accepted is just really exciting.”
Allyssa, already a senior, has been accepted to Texas A&M in College Station. Because of her ACC classes, she should graduate with 18 hours of college credit. Right now, she’s working on scholarships and talking to people at A&M, to get a feel for what to expect for next year.
“I love talking to people at A&M—on campus and also exploring activities on campus. It gets me excited,” Rodriquez said. “I’m pretty excited about going to college. Get everything done early. Deadline’s come up really quick. Don’t wait till the last minute.”
Here are the top six schools students are applying to:
2. Texas State
3. UT at Austin
5. Texas A&M
6. Texas Tech
