What should I do about college?

Answered

Hi Chiara! You have plenty of time to figure out where you want to go, the financial stuff, your major, and your essays as a sophomore. But, I personally think it's never too early to start thinking about college, but I would urge you not to worry or stress about it, at least not yet. The college process can be stressful, but the advantage of starting to think about these things early is it alleviates a lot of stress during your junior and senior years. I would start thinking about what types of fields you are interested in (i.e. STEM, the arts, language, etc.) and start taking class around them (i.e. if you like science, maybe take an additional science class) and participating in extracurriculars around them (i.e. if you like foreign languages, apply for cultural exchange trips if they're offered at your school or within your community or start a pen pal club that writes letters to people in different countries). This will allow you to see if you truly enjoy your interests. Plus, if you do find something you're passionate about, your application will reflect that interest with three (four if you're already doing this) years of participation in an activity centered around it as well as additional elective classes. Another thing I would start doing is making a list of ideas or events that you could write your personal or supplemental essays about. I wish I had done this, I'm a senior and I've written my current personal essay five times and I hate it, so I'm going to start over. I only just came up with my new idea last night at 3 am. Also, I would start figuring out what type of institution you would be most successful at - is it a large, public state school or a smaller, private liberal arts one. Do you want to stay close to home or go to school in another country? If you have specific schools in mind, look at their GPA and course requirements, and see if you are on the right path to meeting them. Lastly, it seems to me like your parents are brushing you off about the financials, I think they will be more open during your junior or senior year. Besides, financial reasons shouldn't stop you from applying to your dream schools - there's always scholarships and worst-case scenario: loans. One last tip: start studying for the SAT early (that is if it actually matters next year). I would recommend either beginning or middle of your junior year. I started the summer after my sophomore year because I am planning on applying to some stupidly competitive schools. My best suggestion is to augment your study schedule around your PSAT score and the score you are shooting for on the SAT.