It's that time of year again. A new batch of high school students are entering their senior year, and preparing for college applications, balancing academics with extracurriculars and graduation. Senior year can be one of the most stressful parts of your high school experience, but if you prioritize and learn how to manage your time correctly, you can make it one of the best years of school. Here's a list of things I wish someone had told me before the start of my senior year.
1. Pick one club and stick with it.
It may be tempting to try to get involved in as many clubs as humanly possible to boost your resume, but it's much better to be fully committed to one club. Trying to stick your hand in too many things will only clutter your schedule, leading to unnecessary stress.
2. Write at least one college essay over the summer.
Figure out which colleges you think you want to apply to, and write the essay for the school with the earliest deadline over the summer before you have the stress of classes and school activities to distract you from your focus. Another good option is to write the Common Application essay over the summer because many schools accept the Common App, so you'll have the essay completed for multiple schools.
3. It's OK if you don't know what you want to do.
Most high school seniors don't know what they want to do with their lives. It's OK to go into college with an undeclared major. College is a great time to discover yourself and explore your passions. You'll likely be surprised by the moment when it suddenly becomes clear what you want to do with your life.
4. File your FAFSA early.
Remind your parents to file their taxes early so you can file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as close to the January 1st date when it becomes available. This will allow you to file before the priority deadline at the schools you were accepted at, so you will know what you are receiving for aid earlier, which will help you make your college decision.
5. Don't forget that your family helped you get here.
Your high school graduation is not just a big moment for you, but also for your family. They're the people who have raised you up to be the person that you are today. Keep them close during your senior year, especially because you'll soon be leaving them to move away to college.
6. Go on as many college visits as you can.
A college visit is a great way to get a sense of a college campus, and many high schools will excuse seniors from a certain number of absences to visit colleges. During a campus visit, you can tour the school's campus, meet with professors and current students, and talk with a financial aid counselor to help you decide if the school is a good fit for you.
7. Don't overload your schedule.
It can be tempting to take as many AP classes as you can possibly fit in your schedule, but you have to stop to evaluate the time commitment each class will require before you commit to the course load. Your senior year can be an especially great time to take some electives that you enjoy to allow you to focus on college applications.
8. Remember that your mental health is important too.
Although it is important to maintain good physical healthy, perhaps even more important is your mental health. Senior year can be stressful, so it's important to take time to relax, destress and spend some time doing something you love. Find a hobby that will allow you to spend some quiet time by yourself, whether that's knitting, coloring, writing, or anything else you can come up with.
9. Accept that senioritis will happen.
There will be days where you feel like school is pointless. There will be assignments that you don't want to do. And it will suddenly seem much more common among your classmates after the May 1st decision day rolls around. Just remember to power through, because you need those passing grades to graduate!
10. Remember that you get to graduate in the end.
Whenever you're having a hard day, remember that when it's all over, you get to walk across the stage in your cap and gown, grab that diploma and say good bye to high school forever!
