If you are thinking about college, you’ve already started! As you’ve probably heard, admissions can be extremely selective, so if you know that’s where you’re headed, go ahead and get a jump on it.

What should I do first?
Make an appointment with the college and career center at your school, and talk to the counselors about your plans. They can answer all of your questions, provide helpful resources, and get you organized.

What if I have no clue what I want to do after graduation?
That’s okay, too! In this issue of NEXT, we have lots of informative and inspirational articles designed to help you consider all of your options.

• Identify your resources and supports: Your school’s college and career center, NEXT, family members and friends, teachers, and reputable websites like commonapp.org.
• Don’t panic: Know that wherever you are in your journey, that’s an okay place to be. It’s all about taking the next step.
• Organize your thoughts and materials as you gather them: A dedicated notebook, planner, folder, spreadsheet, or app … having it all in one place makes it way easier to manage.