Tips and Tricks for the Class of 2027

Senior year is full of many fun events, accomplishments, and challenges for students. From completing college applications to accepting offers to go to universities or technical schools, to the day they walk the stage at graduation, the Class of 2027 is in for an exciting year. However, we know that the college application season may bring lots of stress for our seniors. Whether they need help drafting their essays, gaining recommendation letters, or applying for scholarships or financial aid, HCCA has a resource to help! Taking the lessons we’ve learned from the previous application cycles, we present our best tips and tricks for the Class of 2027 to navigate and overcome the college application season with minimal stress and maximum confidence.  

1. Start Early  

The best way to stay prepared and reduce stress when filling out college applications is to start earlier than you think. Even for the most prepared students that can craft essays and fill out questionnaires in just a few hours, it never hurts to leave a little bit of buffer room for the unexpected. Leave yourself enough time to complete your applications and receive multiple rounds of feedback before submitting. If applying to multiple schools, ensure you leave enough room between deadlines to refine each application. Also, ensure that you are dedicating enough time for class assignments, outside responsibilities, and time for yourself as well! One of the biggest stressors throughout the college application season is time management. So, help your future self by starting early now! 

2. Get Feedback from Others 

Before submitting an application, make sure that all your responses are reviewed by an objective, trusted source. There is a saying among writers to “Kill your darlings.” This means that sometimes we need to look at our work objectively and revise even the parts we like best. Everyone benefits from feedback and when filling out college applications, it is helpful to designate a trusted individual that can review answers you fill out to ensure accuracy, help you finetune essays, and give you impartial advice on how to make your application stronger. It is important to remember that the admissions counselors reviewing your application will not get a full picture of your character. Therefore, feedback from an impartial source may bring light to impressive aspects within your application that you have yet to consider. 

3. Be Creative  

Sometimes, the most impressive applications are those where students think outside the box. College admissions officers are looking for more than just a high GPA and a list of extracurriculars. After reading so many seemingly identical applications, it is the ones where students dare to experiment and practice creativity within their responses that give admissions officers a fuller picture into who you are as a student and what you have to offer. Write college essays that invite officers to explore your unique perspective on a topic. The most far-fetched ideas may be the ones that make you stand out! 

4. Don’t Base Your Worth on Negative Outcomes  

Your worth, identity, and future cannot be determined by any one outcome. While naturally disappointing for a student not to get into a school or program, they’d considered their dream, students need to remember that admissions officers only see a glimpse of what a single student has to offer. Therefore, any negative outcome should not be taken personally as it is just a reflection of a single person’s perspective on an incomplete picture of who you are. No one outcome can determine your potential for success. 

5. Explore Your Options  

Never put all your eggs in one basket. In addition to the possibility of a negative outcome as discussed previously, when a student is not open minded about all of their options, they may overlook a program, opportunity, or relevant aspect of a school that may be a better fit than another they’d been narrowly set on. Exploring new possibilities is the best way to evaluate all of your options, ensuring that when you do make a decision about your future, you know without a doubt that it is the right fit.  

6. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 

Whether you end up at the school of your dreams, or someplace new and unexpected, be sure to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Sometimes the best opportunities, people, and experiences stem from trying something new. College is a time for exploration and growth, and the best way to do that is to surround yourself with new people, perspectives, and experiences that you have yet to consider. Even when it comes to picking up a school, think about the variety of experiences and opportunities a place has to offer and consider whether they align with your broader goals both academically, professionally, and personally. That class or research group that sounds interesting may help you discover new, untapped parts of yourself!  

Want to learn more about how Hoosier College and Career Academy helps students prepare for college. Explore enrollment options today.  

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