How to Have a Successful Senior Year in High School

Many high school students have the misconceived notion that senior year of high school is all fun and relaxation. In other words, they have the infamous senioritis. And those are the ones that end up having to considerably adjust their courses in life because they failed to work hard enough to get admitted into their dream college, or any colleges at the top of their lists. Yes, fun and relaxation is a part of senior year, but not all of it. Senior year also involves a lot of hard work and stress, from college applications to academics to extracurricular activities to future plans. By following this guide based on my own experiences, you will have a well-balanced and successful senior year and most importantly, leave for college with no regrets.

1. Enroll in challenging classes such as Advanced Placement ones so that you have a relatively challenging courseload. You do not want colleges to see that you decided to slack off your senior year by taking easy or very few classes. You will look very good especially if you achieve decent or high grades with a difficult courseload compared to a mild or easy one. Most importantly though, you will continue to challenge yourself intellectually, which is good preparation for what is to come in college. However, what you do not want to do is to over-tax yourself with a ridiculous courseload, as that could unnecessarily harm your GPA.

2. Research and plan out which colleges you will apply to over the summer. Now, if you pay close attention, you’ll realize that I did not tell you to start your college applications and essays. Because that almost never happens over the summer anyway, regardless of how many times you are reminded to do that. However, having a comprehensive list of the colleges you will apply to is crucial. This will save you valuable time when you start filling out applications amidst all the schoolwork in the fall, because you would not have to waste time finding the colleges. While formulating that list, you should be conducting detailed research on those colleges. You do not want to waste time and money filling out an application or writing essays for colleges you would not go to anyways. In that list, you should have at least 3 “reach” colleges, 4 “safe” colleges and 3 “back-up” colleges.

3. Start brainstorming ideas for college essays over the summer. Believe it or not, but the hardest part of college personal statements is probably the search for that elusive topic and its connection to you as a person. If you get a head-start on that thinking process, it could also save you valuable time on the application process.

4. Plan to participate in the clubs and teams you have been a part of for the past two or three years. And actually do it. Colleges like to see commitment from you, especially to community service and to things you truly enjoy. For example, if you have been a part of the football team since your sophomore year, do not quit during your senior year. It is a testament to your dedication to a passion and your ability to manage time and handle stress, assuming you are able to keep up with your courseload and grades.

5. Know that first semester is not the time for partying yet. Keep your GPA up as high as you can and do not let it drop substantially, because colleges will immediately identify you as a slacker unless you provide a legitimate reason for it. In addition to maintaining your grades and continuing your extracurricular activities, you have your future at stake with your college applications. Instead of going to the movies on a Thursday night, work on that essay and get it done as early as you can so you can receive invaluable feedback from peers and teachers alike. Though there is a possibility your effort will not pay off in terms of college acceptances with the brutal reality of today’s college acceptance rates, you should still at least give yourself the highest chance you can of getting accepted.

6. Establish the most positive relationships you can with the teachers you plan on getting recommendation letters from, if you have not already. After all, even some form of a positive relationship is better than nothing right? Though these recommendation letters will not be the one deciding factor of your admission, an extremely well-written and personal one could potentially tip the mind of an admissions officer in your favor.

7. Do not academically slack off too much during your second semester. Now, notice how I am not telling you not to slack off at all? That is because, having being a senior myself, I know everyone will slack off at one point at another, but with varying degrees. If you slack off so much to the point where your GPA drops significantly, you are in deep trouble with whichever colleges you end up getting accepted to. Make sure you know the admission rescindance policies of the colleges you applied to and keep your GPA above the minimum.

8. Do not let the fear of rejection from your top colleges get to your head during second semester. At that point, there is really nothing else you can do about the result other than keeping your GPA at a sufficient level and not getting in trouble from doing things like cheating. Enjoy the last semester of high school as much as you can, because after you graduate, you will never experience the high school life again. Hang out with your friends, go to school social events, support your school’s sports teams, and go on adventures, albeit safe ones. When June rolls around, it will finally hit you that you will never be able to hang out with your friends as high schoolers ever again. If there has been anything you have not done in the past three years from fear, such as going to high school dances, do it. You do not want to leave high school with regrets of things you wish you had done.

9. Explore career options during your second semester. Get a job, apply for internships, find job-shadowing opportunities, and keep pursuing community service opportunities. Your future is coming faster than you think it is, and by doing some or all of these things, you will help yourself figure out your future better. In addition, staying active in these ways will help you become more experienced in real life and more aware of the real world, which are necessary traits to have as you head off to college. They could also bring you in some extra money, which you will put into your savings account for college.

10. Toss that graduation cap up in the air with your senior friends and with your family watching. Smile, because you just had the most amazing year of your high school career. Because you have all these special memories with your high school friends that will live on forever. Because you have your entire future ahead of you in your own hands.


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