The years you spend in college will be some of the most important in your life. You will prepare for a career, develop relationships, and encounter new ideas. With so much to look forward to, it’s never too early to begin preparing. The decisions you make in high school – and even earlier – can affect both where you can attend college and how you will do when you get there. At Point Loma, we want you to succeed, and we pride ourselves on preparing students for life. Start getting ready for your college years with these time-tested tips.
Maintain Good Study Habits
Point Loma considers grades from freshman year of high school on. The earlier you can develop and maintain good study habits, the better. So budget your time, do your homework and study hard! Seniors, even during this busy time, be sure to continue achieving good grades. We will need your final transcripts at the end of your senior year. Also, the higher your GPA is, the better your chance of receiving scholarships.
Visit Point Loma
Studies have shown that students make a decision as to whether a university is right for them within the first five minutes of being on a campus. We highly recommend that you take a day or two and visit our incredible campus!
Complete an Interview With Your Counselor
An interview is strongly recommended in our application process. Since this is an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself, it's beneficial to make a good impression. Consider what you wear. We are not expecting suits and ties, but we encourage you to dress a step above from how you normally dress to school. Also punctuality goes along with first impressions, so showing up early will never hurt. As for the interview itself, there are no right or wrong answers. We are simply trying to get a better sense of who you are.
Take the PSAT and/or PLAN and SAT or ACT
If you are a sophomore, the PSAT or PLAN is the best way to prepare yourself to do well on the SAT or ACT. Contact your career counselor to sign up for the PSAT/PLAN. If you are a junior or senior, register as soon as you can to take either the SAT or ACT. Don’t be afraid to retake the test several times, as your scores may go up each time.
Meet Your Career Counselor
Get to know your high school career or guidance counselor. Ask about local scholarships, tips for applying to college, and resources your school offers to seniors who are college bound.
Get Involved
Colleges look at extra-curricular activities as an indication of who you are. Join a club, a music group, a service organization, a youth group, or a sport, and get involved! Meet your PLNU Admissions Counselor. We're here to help. Get in contact with your admissions counselor, and let us know that you're interested in Point Loma. You can also check to make sure that you're on track to becoming a Point Loma student.
Check Your Spelling and Grammar
One of the most common ways applicants hurt their application is through bad spelling and grammar. Be sure to check over everything and perhaps have someone else look it over. The application includes two essay questions in order to help the admissions committee evaluate the student's writing skills, intellectuality, and degree of personal reflection. We have provided some tips on writing essays for you to take advantage of.