As this school year comes to a close, many seniors find themselves looking at college acceptance letters and weighing the pros and cons of each school to pick their best fit. Juniors prepare for their senior year, sophomores start to plan out their course of action and freshmen are ecstatic to move up a rung on the ladder of high school hierarchy. Among this year’s graduating class is Michelle Wong, who shared her plans for her upcoming college years, as well as some tips on acceptance letters and how to get into the colleges of your dreams.

When it came time for filling out college applications, Wong found that early action is vital when applying to colleges. “It prepared me a lot for the regular decision making that came around later that year,” she said. Wong added that she started her applications in early fall of her junior year.

In addition to applying early, the SAT and ACT are also important for receiving the admission letters from the school of your dreams. Wong’s advice is to start studying the summer before your junior year so you can take it in October to get it out of the way.

Letters of recommendation really add to the application process. Wong suggests asking for them by the end of your junior year. According to Wong, letters of recommendation are important because “the teachers give the colleges insight. That really helps with how the colleges will view you and how they craft your character and overall what they think of you. Teachers can give information that colleges wouldn’t be able to find.”

Extracurriculars add to one’s resume, showing potential colleges and future employers that you’re invested in your community, school and your future. Wong had an internship at the Script’s Institute in La Jolla, and found it to be very beneficial. “I was able to base my essay on the experience I had there, because it really aligns with my interests [neuroscience and applied mathematics],” she said.

After taking these steps, Wong was accepted into Johns Hopkins, Duke, Brown, UC Berkeley, UCLA and a few others. While she is still finalizing her decision as well as her choice of major, Wong looks forward to what her future holds.