Advice needed! Questions for high school juniors about college apps?

Hello everyone! So, my college application journey is starting soon and I'd love to get insights from current high school juniors. What are some important questions to ask them to learn from their experiences and better prepare for the college application process? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Here's a list of questions you could ask high school juniors to gather advice and insights on the college application process:

1. How did you start researching colleges, and what were the most helpful resources for figuring out which schools to consider?

2. What factors were essential for you when creating your college list (e.g. location, size, programs, etc.)? How did you narrow down your list?

3. How did you approach managing your time between academics, extracurriculars, and working on college applications?

4. What strategies did you use for taking standardized tests and test preparation (if applicable)? When did you start preparing for them, and how did you decide when to take them?

5. How did you identify and showcase your passion or "spike" in your application?

6. What advice do you have for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors?

7. How did you approach writing college essays, and how did you decide on the topics for each one? Do you have any tips for brainstorming and starting the writing process?

8. Did you use any support such as a high school counselor or an advisor to assist with the application process? How did they help, and what resources did they provide?

9. How did you handle financial aid and scholarship applications? What resources did you use to find scholarships and learn about the financial aid process?

10. What were some unexpected challenges you faced during the application process, and how did you handle them?

11. Did you visit any college campuses or attend virtual info sessions/webinars? How important were these experiences in deciding on your top-choice schools?

12. How did you maintain a balance between the application process and your mental health or personal well-being? What strategies or self-care tips would you recommend?

These questions should help you learn from the experiences of high school juniors and better prepare for your college application journey. Good luck to you!