June College Readiness Newsletter for High School Families

June marks the end of senior year and the beginning of the most consequential summer for rising seniors. This newsletter covers what graduates need to wrap up and what next year's seniors should start now.

For graduates: finish the handoff to college

The final transcript is sent from the high school to the enrolled college in June or July. Confirm with the counselor's office that this is scheduled. If the counselor office is closed for summer, the registrar usually handles final transcript requests.

Set up your college email account as soon as credentials are sent. All important pre-enrollment communications, including orientation information, housing assignments, and placement test results, go to that account. Students who do not check their college email in June and July miss time-sensitive information.

Housing and orientation: confirm status

If a housing application was submitted in April or May, confirm the assignment timeline for the enrolled school. Many schools send housing assignments in July or August. Orientation registration should already be complete; if not, handle it immediately.

For rising seniors: start the essay now

The summer before senior year is the best time to write the personal statement. There are no deadlines yet, the school year is not pulling at your attention, and there is time to write, reflect, revise, and get feedback at a healthy pace.

Start with brainstorming rather than drafting. Spend a week writing about three or four topics without committing to any of them. Ask: what experience has changed how I see something? What do I know now that I did not know before? What would I want a college admissions reader to understand about me that is not visible in my grades and test scores?

Campus visits: the best use of summer for rising seniors

College campuses are accessible for tours throughout the summer. A rising senior who visits four or five schools over June, July, and August arrives at August with a real list built on direct experience. That list produces better applications than one built entirely on college rankings and word of mouth.

Schedule campus tour appointments in advance; they fill up. If possible, schedule information sessions with the admissions office and, for academically focused students, department events or information sessions.

Test prep: now is the low-stakes time

A rising senior who wants to improve their SAT or ACT scores can spend June and July preparing at a comfortable pace. Register for a summer or early fall test date. Consistent, daily practice of thirty to forty-five minutes produces more score improvement than a few intensive weekend sessions.