5 Golden Tips for Senior Year

Hi everyone, it’s been a while! Someone of you may already know this, but I recently just started my senior year of high school- exciting, right! However, there are a few things I wish I had known before becoming a senior. Even though we’re barely into the year, I already learned a few valuable lessons that I’d like to share with all of you.

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1. For American students, set up your Common App account before the school year begins and start filling in general information. I started doing this in August of my senior year and I have to say, it was really helpful!

2. Begin your Common App personal statement during the spring of your junior year. Many of you may groan and ask “whyyy?” but I honestly think that it was greatly beneficial to start it my junior year. I was able to get edits and comments from my college counselor and other close friends, which was a huge bonus. Plus, it gave me the entire summer to focus on different drafts of my personal statement, until finally, after around 7 drafts, I finished it.

3. Start working on your supplemental essays at the start of senior year. TRUST ME- I really recommend this. I started writing supplements for all my early action colleges, and then was later able to reuse a couple of those essays for my regular decision schools. Now, I’ve been able to finish the supplements for 10 of the 14 schools I’m applying too— which really lightens my workload. ‘Senioritis’ kicks in very early, and you’ll find yourself struggling over your supplementals in October or November. I’m very glad I started those essays earlier, since lately, I have lost some of my motivation to write.

4. Reach out to family and friends for help during the college process. My aunts, family friends, and parents have all helped me edit my personal statement and supplemental essays, and I have to say, it’s been extremely helpful!

5. Cherish every moment with your family and friends. I know everyone says this, but senior year really DOES fly by— I already feel like my first semester is passing by so quickly! Try not to worry too much about college, and enjoy your final year living at home and going to school with your besties.