on a leadership role. Having this experience gave me
things to use to fill out my applications and stories
to fill out my interviews.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Take the PSAT. The PSAT may seem like an
unnecessary extra step, but the experience it
provides is invaluable. I felt a lot more at ease taking
the SAT because I had taken the PSAT the previous
year. If I had not, the format, rules, and studying
practices would have been unfamiliar and an extra
layer of stress. In addition, I opted to fill out a form
on the SAT that would match me with colleges and
send them my information. Then, they could contact
me if they were interested. Through this process, I
learned about new schools which helped me in my
research.
Research potential colleges while thinking about
your future career. This will help you to match the
high school classes you take to your future studies.
This is one thing I really regret not doing. I did not
research careers and schools seriously until senior
year, which caused me to not have classes that were
required for nursing programs at some schools,
which limited my options. Some good ways to
research are asking graduates in your homeschool
community, contacting Seton’s college partners,
and, of course, looking on the internet.
JUNIOR YEAR
Study for and take the SAT. If you take the PSAT, you
will get a detailed online score report that shows
you what you know well and what you should study
more. Use this to give structure to your studying. I
recommend using the Princeton Review’s
study
book as a guide. Be sure to take the timed practice
tests that they include, as this really gives you an
idea of what to work on. It is especially important
for the essay section, which requires a different type
of essay than most people are used to. Another tool
I found helpful was the College Board’s “Question of
the Day” app. It is a great way to keep studying even
during the busy school day.
SENIOR YEAR
Make an application calendar. Once you know what
colleges and scholarships you want to apply to, write
down when the applications are due. When I made
mine, I included how many essays were required,
if there was a fee, and when the early application
deadline was. This helped me to be less stressed
during the application process.
Relax and spend time with family, knowing that your
hard work and careful planning paid off in the end.
Although this all might seem overwhelming,
remember that the goal of this timeline is to spread
work over a long period of time. Following this
timeline makes it more likely that you can attend
the college that you desire since you will have
prepared ahead of time.
Anna Eileen
is a member of the Seton Home Study School
Class of 2014. She is currently a freshman nursing major at
Aquinas College in Nashville, TN. When she is not studying,
you can usually find her cycling, listening to music, or
spending time with family and friends.
37
BAYLEY BULLETIN, MAR-MAY 2016
