Senior Year...How Should I handle it?

Applying to College
1

Hello Everyone! Hope y’all are doing great! I am…sorta…

I am a senior, so that means that this semester will be busy with college apps, last-minute SATs, recommendations, and more! I want to gather as much information as possible as how I can balance this entire year with work, play, and “preparing for the future” tips. Pre-college tips are also welcome, as well as how to survive the last semester of senior year!

Anything will be appreciated and, as always, thanks in advance! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

2

Trawl through these threads. I’m sure there will be good tips for you within
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/

3

AWESOME! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: Thanks @T26E4

4

You should have done or be doing the following:

  1. Make a list of all your ECs, when you did them, about how many hours a week, and descriptions.
  2. You only get 10 slots for ECs on common app, so start categorizing them. Like you may want to categorize all music ECs together, or split them up somewhat.
  3. Make sure to mention what leadership you have in those ECs, even if not a formal position…and talk about what you did as a leader.
  4. Choose a Common App essay prompt
  5. Write a draft of your essay this summer. Give it to your GC/English teacher to review in the fall.
  6. If you haven’t already, choose who you want to ask to write recommendations for you. If your major is STEM, ask a Math and a science teacher.
  7. See what your HS Guidance office wants you to do for college apps…(look on their website)…Do they want you to complete a brag sheet or something else to help the GC?
  8. Visit some local colleges…like your State flagship, a smaller private school…see what you like and don’t like about them. Or take a trip and visit more schools.
  9. Come up with a list of what you want in a college…major, location, urban/rural, size, etc etc
  10. Based on that, use Naviance, Supermatch (here on CC), Fiske Guide, etc to come up with a list of colleges
  11. Find out from your parents how much they can spend on college each year
  12. Run the Net Price Calculator on those colleges to see if they are affordable
  13. If not, look at colleges that give automatic scholarships and see if they are good for you http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html#latest
  14. Try to visit some of those colleges over the summer if possible if you haven’t already
  15. DO NOT APPLY TO A SCHOOL YOU WOULDN’T ATTEND. Also known as “Love thy Safety”. Pick your Safety first. I don’t know how many stories I read about people who didn’t get into an of their reaches and what they thought were matches and are only accepted to the safety and have a fit…find one that you like.