The College Journey: What Students Should Be Doing in Middle School to Prepare for College

The college admissions process is one of the most significant academic undertakings, so the earlier you can start to prepare, the better. To learn how, we spoke with Keith Wilkerson, Founder and Lead Teacher for CollegeThoughts. Keith has over 21 years of experience in the college placement field and has counseled more than 7,000 families about their educational options. Here is Keith’s advice on how to start preparing for college in middle school.

What should you be doing in 6th grade to prepare for college?

1. Read More! Reading Isn’t Optional.
   Often, when speaking with parents, I hear them say that their child just doesn’t enjoy reading as though reading is a choice. I wonder what they would say if their child told them that they didn’t enjoy bathing. There are some things that are non-negotiable, and reading is definitely one of them. High school and life beyond will be a tremendous struggle for students who don’t develop strong fundamental reading skills. Sometimes it just takes trying out a new author or genre to get into the reading groove!
2. Answer Questions Completely.
   Text messaging has taught us how to answer questions with brevity, but in order to communicate effectively, students have to learn how to answer questions with the necessary details. For example, if someone asks if you play a sport, take the time to share which sport you play, how long you’ve been playing, as well as something that you are looking forward to about the next season, or information about the role or position that you play. Practicing this skill will help later on with parts of the college admissions’ process such as application essays and interviews.  

What should you be doing in 7th grade to prepare for college?

1. The Future Is Now!
   Preparing for statewide testing and achieving a strong performance in 7th grade will shape the college journey. If you plan to apply to a competitive independent high school, scholastic aptitude will play a part in determining which high schools you could attend, and the high school that you attend will influence the colleges that you will consider. Setting an academic precedent in middle school will help you achieve your goals once you enter high school.  

What should you be doing in 8th grade to prepare for college?

1. Prepare for High School. Transition isn’t Easy.
   Making the transition to high school is going to be difficult at times. The fact that you may be a strong student in your middle school program doesn’t automatically mean that you are going to hit the ground running when you get to high school. Taking a critical look at where you might be able to strengthen your skills—whether reviewing your algebra notes over the summer or taking some time to improve the quality of your writing—will help make your adjustment smoother.
2. Don’t Celebrate Too Soon!
   When I played middle school basketball, my coach told us that people who celebrate scoring baskets often fail to actually win games. I know that you are proud of advancing from middle school to high school, but don’t ease off too much. There are miles to go in your journey to college, and it may be more prudent to save the money and energy from a big middle school graduation party and invest it in your high school success. As former President Barack Obama once said, “You know, sometimes I’ll go to an 8th-grade graduation and there’s all that pomp and circumstance and gowns and flowers…. An 8th-grade education doesn’t cut it today. Let’s give them a handshake and tell them to get their butts back in the library!”

Want to learn what students should be doing in high school to prepare for college? Check out this Test Innovators’ blog post!