2026 College Guide by aio Hawaiʻi

College

Guide

Landing a Job

Preparing in High School + Surviving College + Important Test Dates

PUBLISHER

DONNA KODAMA-YEE

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DIANE SEO

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

KATRINA VALCOURT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

JAMES NAKAMURA

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

CHRISTINE LABRADOR

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

MICHELLE STOFLE

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

DONNIE FORD

ADVERTISING PROJECT MANAGER

MICHELLE OKADA

UNIVERSITY

A PRIVATE COLLEGE EDUCATION THAT’S AFFORDABLE CHAMINADE

UNIVERSITY’S HAWAI‘I GUARANTEE

Designed for Hawai‘i high school seniors, ou r Hawai‘ i Guarantee Scholarship help s meet the cost of in-stat e undergraduate tuition * at Hawai‘i‘s state university.

*Hawai‘i Guarantee Scholarship does not apply to students pursuing a nursing major.

Learn more about our Hawai‘i Guarantee

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COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA : Include Chaminade University code 001605

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See why our Silverswords call our campus home!

• Take a student-led campus tour

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Landing a Job

Colleges are designing new AI tools, internship opportunities and courses to better equip students for post-graduation careers.

BY ANNABELLE INK

RISING UNEMPLOYMENT RATES. Widescale layoffs. A growing dependence on generative AI. Recent college graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets in years. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported in March that unemployment among people 22 to 27 reached 5.8%, almost 2% higher than the overall unemployment rate. The last time this group faced such tough work prospects, excluding the height of the pandemic, was 2013.

Hiring has also slowed significantly—and seemingly abruptly. Last fall, employers planned to hire 7.3% more graduates from the class of 2025 than they did from the class of 2024, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. That expectation dropped to 0.6% by spring, a period of economic uncertainty marked by talks of tariffs, government and corporate layoffs, and inflationary pressures.

This trend is not going unnoticed by college administrators, who see firsthand how the slowdown on hiring is impacting their students and recent graduates. “For a lot of students, it’s creating a lot of anxiety: having to change career plans, even relocate,” says Ryan Tin Loy, senior career development adviser at Hawai‘i Pacific University. “Things are very stressful for our current graduates.”

But as economic threats loom and the threat of unemployment grows, colleges are creating new ways to support their students. We spoke with administrators at colleges across the country that are popular among Hawai‘i high school graduates to see what they’re doing to prepare their students for a challenging job market.

“I cannot control the economy, so what we’re going to do is we’re going to control what we can control: increasing our efforts to provide as many different postgraduation opportunities and internship opportunities for students,” says Jennifer Kim, associate vice president of career and professional development at Chapman University in Southern California.

INSTEAD OF FEARING AI, EMBRACE IT

THE USE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in the workplace has been a hot topic since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, with some experts claiming the technology could be responsible for the recent decline in entry-level positions available to new college graduates in such fields as computer science, engineering and finance. But for some colleges, AI isn’t necessarily a threat—it’s a tool.

“I think students almost have to be using those tools,” says Heather Doering, associate director of business career programs at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. “At least on the business side, we have employers saying on their job descriptions they want students to have AI literacy.”

Upcoming Dates

December

FAFSA forms become available. The online FAFSA application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, 2026. However, many colleges will require this earlier. Complete the CSS Profile to find more scholarship options.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation also opens its scholarship application process. Check hawaiicommunityfoundation.org for updated deadlines.

February/March

The deadline for financial aid applications at most colleges.

March/April

Many colleges send out acceptance letters during this month.

May 1

Many colleges require that you reply with your intent to enroll by this date.

Crunching the Numbers at UH Mānoa

(2025–2026 School Year)

$11,520

In-state tuition (includes Native Hawaiian nonresidents, active duty military and other exemptions)

The past two years have seen a 400% increase in the use of the term “AI” in job descriptions, according to data from Handshake, a job search engine widely used by Gen Z. Many colleges are addressing this change through workshops or courses that teach students how to ethically use AI. Others are taking a more direct approach, launching their own AI tools for students to use as they begin to enter the job market.

At Chapman, students can access the Chapman Career AI, a comprehensive career platform launched in 2023 that uses artificial intelligence to assist students with virtual mock interviews, résumé and cover letter drafting, and LinkedIn profile development.

Oregon State University pays for students and recent graduates to access similar virtual tools, including the AIenabled résumé reviewer VMock, and Standout, an interview preparation platform that gives students instant feedback on their practice recordings. In April, the college also developed a custom AI chat, the OSU AI Career Assistant. Peer career assistants can use the technology to offer students additional feedback, practice guides and sample interview questions during advising sessions.

This year—anticipating student concerns over federal hiring freezes and workforce reductions—career education staff at OSU used AI to identify available county and city jobs that are comparable to federal ones. “Helping students figure out how to think outside the box, how to

$33,552

Nonresident tuition

$17,280

Western Undergraduate Exchange rate

$17,280

Pacific Island Exemption rate

see what’s also available, is something we really pride ourselves on,” says Elizabeth Simmons, OSU’s senior director of career development.

Likewise, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa utilizes AI both in its curriculum and in its efforts to help students land internships and jobs, although Career Center director Wendy Sora says the university continues to prioritize personalized, human-centered career counseling. “We want students to be able to leverage AI,” she says. “We don’t see it as a solution or answer for all career-related matters.”

COMPUTERS CAN’T COMPETE

SOME COLLEGES ARE ADAPTING their curriculums to better prepare students for the changing demands of employers. Chaminade University revised its general education program in 2020, which administrator Jennifer Creech says could give students a leg up in today’s job market—one that increasingly favors applicants with demonstrable soft skills.

In the face of a world increasingly run by computers and AI, these skills give students a way to stand out.

“Our general education follows a scaffolding approach that intentionally weaves in adaptability, communication skills, critical thinking,” she says. “It’s also a holistic design that ensures that every graduate that leaves Chaminade will have both an academic knowledge and the soft skills that employers value the most today.”

The college also recently formed advisory boards composed of a broad spectrum of industry and community leaders who provide ongoing feedback on the curriculum’s alignment with workforce needs and emerging trends. But Chaminade is not the only college placing an emphasis on soft skills.

At HPU, first-year students take a course on adapting to college and strengthening their communication, teamwork, leadership and professionalism.

Still Hopeful in a Tough Job Market

NINA SHAW Senior, Chapman University

NINA SHAW’S LOVE OF ARTWORK AND CRAFTS evolved into a desire to become a creative director—a dream she’s spent the past three years working toward through Chapman University’s graphic design program. But what she didn’t realize when she started her degree was how difficult it would be to land a job after graduation.

“The job market is not too good,” says Shaw, who graduated from Mililani High School. “I have friends who graduated; it’s taking everyone five, six months to find a job. And especially with graphic design, it’s a super saturated market right now.”

With so many people competing for the same spots, unfilled entry-level positions are becoming increasingly rare. Those that do remain open, Shaw says, often require at least four years of experience and skills beyond the traditional scope of graphic design.

Shaw says the steady rise of artificial intelligence is another source of concern. At a recent portfolio review, where local designers came to the school and offered students feedback on their work, a reviewer told Shaw he had just replaced an entire department with AI. Still, Shaw hopes to find opportunities in her field.

“A lot of my professors tell us that AI is going to change the way we design, but it won’t take away the jobs—you need people to come up with the ideas,” she says. “While AI could do the products, we’re the idea makers.”

In the meantime, she’s doing everything she can to acquire professional experience. Last year, as creative director for Chapman’s art department, she directed creative campaigns, oversaw art directors and gave presentations. The experience, she says, helped her land a summer internship at Sony Music Group, where she created visuals for various artists.

“This internship has taught me that I do have the capabilities of doing what I want to do,” she says. “I feel a lot more confident in myself and my design after this summer, and being able to find a job—I know I’ll be able to do it.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

Students rate themselves on their skills and reflect on how they plan to develop them during college.

“These are skills that allow students to take on a variety of different careers,” says Joseph Barnett, director of HPU’s Center for Academic Success. “As the workforce changes with things like AI and changing job markets, our students are able to adapt.”

Other colleges are taking a more direct, career-focused approach. Last summer, OSU launched a new core education curriculum that includes two required courses centered around career readiness and development. The program, called Beyond OSU, teaches students how to connect their education to suitable careers and provides them with internships, undergraduate research and service opportunities.

IT’S ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW

NETWORKING IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT of landing a job, especially for recent college graduates. “Networking is the number one thing I talk about with our students, because ultimately, that’s going to be what cuts through and gets you an interview,” Doering says.

Yet according to Sarah Phillips, an administrator and former professor at Pacific University in Oregon, many students come to college without potential employment connections.

“Before I taught at Pacific, I taught at Yale—those students didn’t need help, right?” Phillips says. “They came from families that were going to take care of them just fine. Our students are different. They’re going to be just as successful, but they need some scaffolding.”

With about 20% of its student body coming from Hawai‘i, the school has a Hawai‘i Outreach & Programming office, where current families, faculty and alumni with Hawai‘i ties can connect with students and offer them one-onone support and guidance. The office also houses Nā Haumāna O Hawai‘i, a

COURTESY: NINA SHAW

student-run club that hosts an annual lū‘au and hōi‘ke.

Phillips says the office creates opportunities for alumni from Hawai‘i to keep in touch with the college, which can prove helpful when graduates are looking for work back home. Oftentimes, alumni who’ve successfully landed jobs call Janalei Chun, or “Auntie Jana,” the office’s director, to share other opportunities and connections that students can take advantage of. “You have to network people, have to know somebody and call somebody, and having a huge network of alumni—of tens and thousands of alumni—is incredibly helpful for that,” she says. “I would say that is especially true in the Islands, where it’s small and folks are really interconnected.”

Most colleges also host regular career fairs, where recruiters meet with students on campus. OSU alone organizes more than 30 career fairs each year, along with informational and mock interview sessions with employers. At Chapman, students meet with alumni and potential employers in more intimate settings through its Career Networking Nights.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Navigating a Changing Landscape

KŌNANE MORIKAWA Senior, Columbia University

THE OCEAN HAS ALWAYS HELD AN ALLURE FOR KŌNANE MORIKAWA, a Kamehameha Schools graduate raised in Kailua. “I would always beg my parents to go to an aquarium, despite living in Hawai‘i and seeing fish every day,” she says. “So I always knew I wanted to do something with the ocean.”

Now, she’s studying environmental science at Columbia University in New York City. After graduation, she hopes to work in environmental planning. Despite environmental policy rollbacks brought on by the Trump administration, Morikawa believes Hawai‘i’s ecological sensitivity and cultural values will create a need for that kind of work.

“We can’t really afford, with infrastructure, to have any reactive planning. We have to develop now,” she says. “We have vulnerable communities, especially with Indigenous people, and because so much of our land is coastal, we get hit first by environmental hazards.”

But Morikawa worries tension at her university could impact her future. Last March, the Trump administration canceled more than $400 million of Columbia’s federal funding because of its response to campus protests against the war in Gaza. Morikawa says the situation has limited potential research opportunities and thrust her into politically charged conversations.

“Every time I tell someone I go to Columbia, it’s either Trump or the protests or surveillance—it’s the top comment I get, even during interviews,” she says. “The way I navigate through that question could potentially lead to whether or not my job is in jeopardy.”

Even so, Morikawa is cautiously optimistic about her career prospects. She says the university is doing everything it can to assist students in her program, including facilitating or connecting them with hundreds of research jobs and internships. Last summer, she interned with landscape design firm PBR Hawai‘i, doing environmental planning and architecture. “I was really fortunate to get this internship,” she says. “A lot of internships here—since they relied on federal grants—were pulling out.”

COURTESY: KŌNANE MORIKAWA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

Continuing Education

ARIS CARLOS

Graduate student, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

PLANNING A CAREER IN CYBERSECU -

RITY, Moanalua High School graduate Aris Carlos spent the past few years pursuing his undergraduate degree in computer science at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Early in his college tenure, Carlos felt confident about his future job prospects on O‘ahu.

“I was leaning more toward an opportunity within the government to do cybersecurity,” says Carlos, who received his degree last summer. “Because of us being in Hawai‘i, given that there’s a big military presence, I figured that I would be OK in terms of jobs overall.”

But even before graduating almost a year early, Carlos was hit with reality: an increasingly competitive job market, hiring freezes and a rising unemployment rate within the industry. While he sees cybersecurity as more stable than other areas of computer science, he says he hasn’t been unaffected by these challenges.

Last April, Carlos was selected as a candidate for an internship with the Defense Information Systems Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Defense. But when the Trump administration imposed a hiring freeze, the program was canceled. “I was like, shoot, I don’t know what to do, because a lot of internship stuff closed up,” Carlos says.

Now, he’s continuing his education at UH Mānoa and pursuing a master’s degree in computer science. He hopes it will improve his chances of finding work after graduation.

“I hate to say it, but a bachelor’s degree is kind of like nothing now,” he says. “Me pursuing my master’s is so that I can be more knowledgeable in what it is I want to do.”

GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR

ANOTHER MUST: LAND ING AN INTERNSHIP.

College administrators say students should aim to have relevant job experience in their desired fields before they graduate. In 2024, LinkedIn reported that those who participated in internships during college were 22.9% more likely than their nonintern counterparts to obtain full-time positions within six months of graduation.

Now more than ever, with entrylevel positions becoming increasingly difficult to secure, colleges are encouraging students to pursue internships year-round.

At UH Mānoa, several academic programs—such as Human Development and Family Studies, and Fashion Design and Merchandising—now require students to participate in internships and capstone projects. “We want students to recognize their whole self, all the things that they’re doing to really build those career competencies, because it doesn’t just happen in the classroom,” Sora says. “It’s also what they do outside.”

Other colleges are bolstering on-campus job opportunities to build students’ skills. “We’re really excited to make sure that if our students do not have the financial means or the time to obtain external internships, we’re going to maximize their on-campus work experience,” Kim says. “They can leverage their on-campus employment to parlay that into other internships and their postgraduation employment opportunity.”

Despite the challenges, college administrators say they’re confident they can still forge paths for student success.

“I believe students come to college with hopes and dreams, and I just feel like part of our purpose being here is really to support students in actualizing the things that they work so hard for,” Sora says. “Our students of today are leaders of tomorrow.”

AARON K. YOSHINO

Pursuing a “Dying” Field

If journalism is dying, I’ll just learn how to chase ghosts.

BY ANNABELLE INK

IWISH I COULD SAY I’VE WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST MY ENTIRE LIFE, but it’s only been since my freshman year of college. That was when someone told me I had the perfect name for the job.

This, I decided, was on point. So I joined my college paper and never looked back.

It was the best decision I could’ve made. Journalism has become a major part of my life, and as one of my editors always said: “It’s not just a job. It’s a lifestyle.”

But journalism is a dying field. At least, that’s what people tell me. I usually tune them out. After all, what do they know? Half of them told me to study computer science three years ago. Now, a lot of those computer science majors are being replaced by computers and AI programs.

Plus, I still read the news instead of watching YouTube clips or relying on social media posts to understand what’s happening in the world. I read it all— stories, columns, features. And so do my friends, and not just the writers. I would argue that anyone who says journalism is dying simply doesn’t read enough.

Still, while journalism might not be disappearing, it’s certainly becoming more challenging. We’re working at a time of declining attention spans, the proliferation of social media and, perhaps most significantly, a growing distrust of media bolstered by the country’s president. Even at my college paper, reporters are constantly denied entry to spaces, turned down for interviews and performatively glared at while on assignment. It’s almost as if we’re automatically cast as untrustworthy when we identify ourselves as media.

I’m not sure what people think journalists do. It’s not like we sit around a table, evil and sinister, plotting how to best misrepresent our subjects. (We

usually sit on a couch for that.)

Sure, plenty of news outlets cherrypick information and push agendas. But there are also media organizations producing quality journalism. And let’s be real here: Rejecting journalism is not the answer, especially if the alternative is relying on ChatGPT, content directed by Instagram algorithms and conspiracy theories.

As a reporter, I’m not out to sensationalize mundane occurrences or spread misinformation, even if it leads to more clicks. I’m here because I want to learn, and because I love to write. I think people should know what’s happening in their communities, and I believe the world needs journalists.

As long as there are stories to tell, we need people to tell them. And with our fractured political climate, a society that increasingly undervalues human connection, and the federal defunding of public media, journalists are more important than ever.

So am I worried about pursuing a dying field? No, because journalism isn’t dying. It’s changing, for sure, but I’m looking forward to being part of its next chapter.

Annabelle Ink is a senior at Pomona College in Southern California. She was a summer editorial intern for HONOLULU as part of a program coordinated by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawai‘i chapter.

Timeline to Success

Finding and getting accepted to the right college or university is actually a four-year process. That may sound daunting, but take each step one at a time and stay organized, and you’ll be fine. Here’s how to manage the road to college admission while in high school.

9th GRADE

Enroll in challenging classes.

Keep grades up.

Get involved in extracurricular activities.

Explore potential career paths.

Set up a college savings plan.

Develop good timemanagement skills.

10th GRADE

Try some AP classes.

Take a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Juniors qualify to compete for the National Merit Scholarship Program, but younger students can take it for practice. collegeboard. org/psat-nmsqt

Consider volunteering or working part-time during the summer.

Visit campuses while traveling, just to get a sense of what type of college appeals to you. Small? Big? Public? Private?

In October, take the PSAT/ NMSQT (this year, testing may occur on any school day Oct. 1–31, as well as Oct. 11 and 18).

11th GRADE

Sign up to take the ACT or SAT. Colleges usually accept either one, but check with where you’re interested. Many students will take the test once as a junior and again as a senior. Is it worth taking it twice? According to UWorld College Prep, 63% of 2018 graduates increased their SAT score on the retest. Test scores can also impact academic scholarships, so consider taking them even if your schools don’t require them.

Visit campuses if possible.

Attend college fairs and network with the college representatives.

Draft your essay during the summer before 12th grade so there is enough time for at least two people to read it and comment.

12th GRADE

Once the Common Application opens Aug. 1, create an account and start filling out your personal information.

In the fall, repeat the ACT/ SAT tests. Send in scores.

Gather teacher and other personal recommendations. Send thank yous afterward!

Narrow down the list, but have at least four to eight schools to apply to.

Check all due dates at the colleges you want to attend; they vary by institution and you don’t want to miss anything.

Standardized Tests

The nationally administered SAT assesses reading, writing and math and is used to test how ready a student is for college. SAT Subject Tests and the optional SAT Essay are no longer offered by College Board. For more, go to sat. collegeboard.org/home

If you have been tested for dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or believe you may qualify for accommodations such as extra time, visit accommodations. collegeboard.org to learn more.

The ACT is a national college admissions exam that includes English, math, reading and science questions. The ACT Writing Test includes a 40-minute essay, which is required by some colleges and not others. In Hawai‘i, the state picks up the cost of taking the ACT for all public school juniors. To register, visit act.org

For all standardized tests, bring a current photo ID issued by a city/state/ federal government agency or your high school, as well as a printed test ticket and approved calculator. Don’t bring a cell phone, smart watch or even a fitness tracker to an SAT test; they are prohibited, and you will be asked to turn in these devices after check-in. ACT test sites allow phones if they are turned off and placed out of reach.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE.

Begin your journey at the UH Community Colleges!

Flexible and Convenient: Take classes online or in person, day or night—it’s your schedule.

Pathways to Bachelor’s: Start here, then transfer seamlessly to UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH West O‘ahu or other four-year colleges.

• • Generous Financial Aid and Scholarships: You may be eligible for “free tuition” with our Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship so you can focus on your future, not your bills.

Career Ready Programs: Over 100+ career-focused programs and certiﬁcates to build in-demand skills and fast-track your path into the workforce.

learn more: uhcc.hawaii.edu

| Honolulu | Kapi‘olani |

SAT Test Dates

Since spring 2024, all students participate in SAT School Day digitally. Be sure to contact your counselor or principal to confirm when your school offers SAT School Day. Students must bring their fully charged laptop (Windows or MacOS), iPad or Windows tablet, or schoolissued Chromebook device with the Bluebook app installed and exam setup complete before test day if testing on a personal device. If approved to borrow a device from College Board, you will need to arrive 30 minutes early for sign-in and setup. See bluebook.collegeboard.org/ students/approved-devices for more details.

Nov. 8

Dec. 6

March 14

May 2

June 6

ACT Test Dates

Oct. 18

Dec. 13

Feb. 14

April 11

June 13

July 11

A Local Kid’s Guide to Surviving College

Tips to stay on top of academics, money and more.

BY HONOLULU MAGAZINE INTERNS

SCHEDULING CLASSES

1 Meet with your adviser every semester. Before choosing your classes, make sure that you meet with your adviser so they can help you build a schedule that will allow you to graduate within four years. Find your academic adviser with the school’s advising guide.

2 Before signing up for classes, check ratemyprofessors.com. Professors can often make or break a class and your GPA, so it is helpful to see what previous students have had to say. However, take it with a grain of salt, as reviews are often biased. Also, if you like a professor, consider enrolling in another course they’re teaching in the future. Building rapport with your professors is vital if you’re considering going to graduate school, but it can also make your college life a lot more enjoyable.

3 Don’t be afraid to change your major. You will be experiencing a lot of change and growth during your college years, and you might not like or want the same things you did in high school. That’s perfectly fine—it’s better to switch things up now than to spend thousands of dollars on a degree you don’t want to use. Consider taking your general education courses first to give you time to think.

4 Remember to check not just the times, but also the locations of your classes. If you have back-to-back classes across campus from each other, will you make it? Try to take classes at the optimal times for you. If you know

you’re not an early bird, avoid those 7:30 a.m. seminars—or, if you know you get sleepy after lunch, don’t schedule a class right after you eat.

5 Interested in studying abroad? It might be difficult to find classes that meet your major requirements abroad, so save some of your core requirements to take abroad instead. If possible, avoid studying abroad as an underclassman; starting college is a big enough change in itself, and you’ll need some time to get acquainted with your own campus before leaving for a new one. Make sure you keep track of application deadlines for different programs so you don’t miss any opportunities.

6 If you earned any college credits early (AP/IB/Running Start/Early College/transfer credits) make sure to submit your official scores and/or transcripts to your school’s admissions office at least a month before course registration, so those courses can be evaluated and you can receive official credit for them.

7 Look into CLEP testing for credits. College Board’s College Level Examination Program exams cost less than $100 per test and offer an alternative way to earn your general education credits. With more than 30 exam subjects, CLEP can help you save money, free up your schedule or graduate early, so be sure to review your school’s CLEP policy and consider registering for an exam at clep. collegeboard.org.

Getting Around

• Research public transportation. Bus or metro passes are often included in a university’s student fees, and your student ID will double as a bus pass, so don’t wait until classes start to pick it up. Even if you have a car, you might find public transportation to be more convenient.

• Check out the school shuttles. Many schools, like New York University and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, have an app for free school shuttles that provide estimated shuttle times.

• Split rides with friends. Riding by yourself in an Uber or Lyft can be expensive and sometimes sketchy, so travel in groups. Students have access to Lyft’s Ride Smart Program, which offers college communities free or discounted transportation.

• Search areas near your school for free parking. Parking on campus might be convenient, but it can be costly, so if you’re commuting from far away, drive to areas like mall parking lots or safe neighborhoods nearby. Just be sure to give yourself enough time to travel the rest of the way.

• Depending on the size of your school, you may want to invest in a bike, electric scooter or skateboard to shave off minutes when getting from one class to the next.

WORKING PART-TIME

• Search the school’s job database. Campus jobs usually hire for the next year or semester, so more crop up near the end of term. Many schools also hold student job fairs, so keep an eye out for those notices.

• Check your emails regularly. Your school and the department you choose your major in will both send you emails regarding exclusive internship and job opportunities, so make sure to check them and apply to all your desired positions. Some schools split jobs into work-study positions, which are reserved for students on financial aid, and nonwork-study ones, which are available to all students. Try to land a desk job at your college. If you can work

GEARING UP

1 If you’re heading someplace cold, it’s best to buy winter jackets there to save money and space in your suitcase. You also might want to see how much room you have in your dorm closet first. Consider investing in a few storage bins that can fit under your bed, or store your winter clothes in your suitcase.

2 In many places, it will get dark around 5 p.m. during the winter. Consider buying a sun lamp or some fairy lights to hang in your dorm to fight those dark afternoons and seasonal depression.

3 Be the cool kid from Hawai‘i with all the ‘ono Hawai‘i snacks—Spam, furikake popcorn, li hing mui sour belts—and a rice cooker. Spread da aloha, and stock up on your favorites for when you get home sick.

4 If you’re lucky, you’ll get a twin XL in your dorm, but most likely you’ll be stuck with a twin bed. Either way,

Money Tips

the front desk at your campus library or gym, you’ll find yourself with loads of downtime. You’ll essentially be getting paid to sit at a desk and do your homework.

• Look for “help wanted” signs on and off campus. Go on a walk downtown and keep your eye out around campus. Some jobs might not be posted online. Restaurant jobs are a good way to get your foot in the door if you don’t have any prior experience, and they usually offer employee discounts for food.

• Walk into places where you want to work and ask if they’re hiring. Bring your résumé and leave it with them in case of an opening.

BUYING BOOKS

college dorm beds are not comfortable. A mattress pad, however, is an easy fix.

5 Don’t forget about the little things, like office supplies, extension cords, nail clippers, bandages, etc. You won’t realize the necessity of small household items until you don’t have them. Consider putting together a first aid kit. You should also have supplies like staplers, tape, paper clips and more. You know your habits best, so take a look around your home and make note of everything you use.

6 Depending on your dorm regulations, consider purchasing a microwave and air fryer This way you can save money by making your own food and ditch the unhealthy options of eating out. But be sure to check if your residential hall has a communal kitchen first—there might be a stove, oven and microwave already provided.

Download an app such as PayPal or Venmo. Every time you go out to eat with friends, come across a campus fundraiser or just need to pay your roommate for toilet paper, various apps and some banks let you do it instantly, so you can request and send money from a bank account. If you live with someone and often have split expenses, Splitwise is a free app that keeps track of everything and does the math for you—that way you’re not constantly sending money back and forth. Also, Unidays is a website that allows college students to get exclusive discounts on subscriptions, clothes, technology and more. Be sure to sign up with your college email to save some coin. myunidays.com

• To clarify what books will be used in your class, contact your professors. Email them before the class starts so you have enough time for your books to come in. Some professors may even provide the text for free or change their syllabus, so don’t order anything until you’ve confirmed you need it.

• Don’t go to the campus bookstore first! While it’ll be your No. 1 resource for school swag, the books are almost always pricier there.

• BookFinder.com and Chegg.com are incredible online resources—BookFinder compares prices of new and used books from more than 100,000 sellers, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal, and Chegg shows you options for both renting and purchasing books, so you can see which one is better for you.

• Buying used textbooks is cheaper; plus you may find useful notes to help you ace the test. (Think of it as a free personal tutor.)

• Check Amazon for textbook rentals, or as another option for finding used books that are in good condition. Anyone with a school email address can start an Amazon Prime Student account for half the usual membership price, which comes with free two-day shipping and access to free movies and music. (Amazon also offers a six-month free trial.)

Preparing for College in High School

A student’s involvement sets the foundation for college acceptance— and beyond. Here’s how to build that foundation with strength and purpose.

BY KATHRYN DRURY WAGNER AND EMILY SMITH

CHESS CLUB. MOCK TRIAL. THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER. CHINESE CLUB. VOLLEYBALL. Sign up for it all! Not so fast. It’s not the number of activities students do in high school that counts, experts say. Think quality over quantity. “And whatever you choose, do it consistently,” says Amy Lynn Prince, a school counselor at Southampton High School in Southampton, New York. “It’s what you’re engaged with actively. Somebody might do 40 hours of community service, but was it 40 hours over one week during a church mission, and the other 51 weeks of the year they did nothing?” Compare that to a student who volunteers with, say, Best Buddies, helping people with developmental disabilities, once a week, all year.

“When students can demonstrate they have had consistent involvement and that they are leaders within the organizations, we get excited about their potential to contribute positively on our campus,” says Mark Cortez, executive director of admissions at Stony Brook University. “This doesn’t have to just be school activities; we want students to think broadly about experiences like community opportunities and/ or work experiences. They each add something a little different and that is what we consider.”

CONNECT THE DOTS

Students should seek out areas where they can take on leadership roles. “That doesn’t always mean being the president of a club or its founder,” Prince says. “What events did you organize? If you’re just listing on your application that you were a member—what does that mean to an admissions officer? Define your role. Now, in ninth or 10th grade, there aren’t a lot of leadership roles but, if you stick with it, if you rise up to captain or co-captain in an athletic setting, or treasurer or president in a group; this shows the qualities colleges are seeking within their own school’s population.”

Schools can tell from a mile away when an applicant is trying to build a résumé out of nothing, grabbing onto 15 random activities. If, on the other hand, a student is involved with Model UN and student government and Girls Learn International, the school can see a pattern and a purpose.

According to Prince, students should use ninth and 10th grade for experi-

mentation, to find out what they are most interested in, and then home in. Remember that “colleges and universities have seniors graduating and need to fill leadership roles or spark something new,” Prince points out. For an athletic program, they may need a new quarterback; for an orchestra, a new cellist. “It’s not like they put an ad out: ‘Hey, we need a cellist,’ but it’s part of the thought process,” she says. “I think one of the reasons I got into the college I did, York College of Pennsylvania, was that I had been a DJ for a high school radio station and they had a radio station that needed a manager.”

CHOOSING COURSEWORK

Even though AP coursework is a great opportunity, again, think quality over quantity. Consider your strengths and your goals. For example, someone interested in engineering might not want to take AP literature, but, instead, explore an engineering program, even without an AP label attached to it. “Schools are

trying to figure out: What drives the student?” says Prince. “If you want to be pre-med, and haven’t done well in science or math, maybe that’s not a realistic goal. That’s a student who is going to change major.” Think about classes that are genuine passions, things that can extend into interests in college. Otherwise, Prince warns, “students become machines of cranking out grades and don’t find what resonates with them.”

STRONG ESSAYS

Most schools require students to submit supplemental essays with their application, which can be a way for college admission officers to decipher whether you will be a good fit at their university. This is especially important now; while some schools are reinstating the SAT and ACT requirements they dropped during the pandemic, many are remaining test-optional and taking a more holistic approach to the admissions process. Recent graduates recommend focusing on telling the admissions officer about yourself, especially outside of academics.

FINISHING STRONG SENIOR YEAR

Students should avoid giving in to senioritis, or playing what Prince calls “a game of academic chicken.” That’s when seniors try to find the line of how little effort they can put in. “It’s not a good game to play,” she says. “If you were a 90 student, you should stay a 90 student, even in senior year. Schools are still watching.” There is some wiggle room, of course. For example, if a student is challenging himself or herself with AP physics, he or she might not get a 90, and schools will understand that.

Your senior year will also be the time when colleges see if your grades have shown consistent growth. This upward trend gives grace to those who might not have gotten the highest grades but have improved over time.

“We encourage students to stay in a foreign language, and recommend electives. It’s free in high school!” Prince says. “Electives cost a lot of money in college. Take advantage. A lot of the AP and honorslevel kids haven’t gotten to take a lot of electives.”

Last, remember that being engaged doesn’t stop after college acceptance. “Once they get on campus, we expect that students will be actively involved, as doing so contributes to their social and academic success,” Cortez says. “As students work to discover their passions in college, they are doing this with [other] students who are diverse in majors, experiences and backgrounds. This discovery stage leads to rich experiences where students can learn from those around them and, in most cases, benefit.”

At Mid-Pacific, learning doesn’t follow the ordinary or traditional. Mid-Pacific transforms students into world-ready innovators, artists, and changemakers.

Mid-Pacific is more than a college prep school. It’s a launchpad for independent thinkers, compassionate citizens, and creative problem solvers.

Our students are empowered to take ownership of their learning through Deeper Learning—a dynamic approach that goes beyond memorization and test taking and into real-world discovery, connection, and meaning.