Essay A: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person

Essay B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Essay C: You've got a ticket in your hand - Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

It is highly recommended that you take the SAT and/or ACT in the fall semester of your senior year

Visit the college adviser at your high school for assistance with registering

Some schools require a minimum score for acceptance

Get free SAT preparation at KahnAcademy.org/sat

Do you want to go to a big school or small school? Do you want to live in Texas or venture out of state? Do you prefer having small class sizes or big class sizes?

Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.

The earlier you start your search, the more best match options you will find 

There are many benefits to completing your applications early

• Earlier consideration for institutional scholarships (some schools have a strict scholarship deadline)

• Less stress and more time to take care of scholarships, FAFSA, etc.

• You may be notified about your admissions status earlier 

​Filing the FAFSA or TASFA early allows you to maximize the amount of money you are eligible for

Visit our 'FAFSA' or 'TASFA' pages for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the forms

There are national, state, and local external scholarships that you can apply for

Make sure you are also submitting all scholarship sections of your college applications to be considered for institutional scholarships

Visit our 'Scholarships' page for external scholarship deadlines and requirements

College representatives are a great resource to gain valuable information about schools you are considering

It is your job to ask them questions that are important to making your final decision

• What is the student to teacher ratio in the classroom?

• What academic resources are offered?

• How many clubs and organizations are there?

Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.

Visiting a college campus can help you decide if the institution is the right one for you

Take a campus tour, visit with staff and staff, but most importantly, ask questions

Try to visit more than one campus so you can compare your experiences

Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.

Colleges want to see that you care about your community and are willing to make it a better place

Examples of volunteering:

• Helping at a hospital, pet shelter, library, or summer camp

• Tutoring students through an official organization

• Helping at church events

Visit our 'Volunteer Info' page under the 'Resources' tab for volunteering opportunities in San Antonio

Being involved at your school shows that you are committed to something that you care about 

Leadership experience shows that you are a team player, can manage your time well, and care about diversifying your experiences

Academic preparation is a critical part of being college-ready

Some high schools have access to programs like UTSA Ready which helps students prepare for college through academic enrichment opportunities

Ask your college advisor if your high school has access to any academic enrichment programs

When applying to colleges and scholarships in your senior year, you will be asked to list all of your challenging classes, volunteer experiences, extracurricular activities, and enrichment programs

Colleges want to see what you are passionate about and how hard you worked over your high school career

Visit the 'Resume Building' page under the 'Resources' tab for free templates

What subjects do you like? What makes you happy? What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

Searching your career options will help you select a major later on

Visit the 'Career Search' page under the 'Resources' tab for help searching

Talk to your school counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses

Colleges want to see that you are interested in learning new things and will work hard to excel in the classroom

Saving money for important college necessities like books, food, dorms, and tuition can be very beneficial if you start early

Talk to a parent or guardian about opening a savings account

Once you are accepted into a college and have submitted your FAFSA, you will most likely receive a financial aid award letter showing how much federal, state, and institutional aid you received

Compare your aid to the cost of attendance to determine your next steps

If you are planning to live on campus, be sure to complete the housing application and any additional requirements by the deadlines given

You may need to search for a roommate, which will require you to start communicating with potential roommates

Most schools will have a New Student Orientation (NSO) for all incoming first-years

If you do not receive an email from your college regarding NSO, you may have to sign up on your own through the institution's website