Senior - Application to Acceptance..... and Beyond

On your mark, get set, GO! 

You have prepared over summer for this last stretch of the race….your college list is set and you are ready to start the application process.  By now, you have met with your counselor and your senior classes meet admission requirements for the colleges you are applying to, you have registered for the SAT/ACT (Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec), and your college notebook is organized by college/application deadline/application requirements (essay, personal statement, letters of rec, etc). You will ask 2 teachers in person if they will write you a letter of recommendation – give them an updated resume and application deadlines. 

College applications should be sent 1-2 weeks before the application deadline.  Applications need your undivided attention so it is wise to set quiet time aside and stay focused….no room for distractions! 

Be sure you have your CSU/UC calculated GPA – this is NOT your HS GPA.  Not sure what this means? See your counselor. 

Essays were started in the summer so continue working on them and ask 1-2 other people to proof read….be open to suggestions J.  You are submitting applications, working closely with your counselor, keeping up your senior grades and I promise this time shall pass.   You are doing a fantastic job and you should be proud.  Never feel like you are doing this alone – your support system is all around you (COUNSELOR, teachers, coaches, parents, friends and siblings!)

Seniors must do:

1. Prepare in the summer….finalize your college list, create UC & common app accounts, sign up for SAT/ACT, start writing your essays and stay organized.   If you are not an organized person you need to change that right now or get help!

2. Start summer homework early….don’t wait until the last minute

3. Senioritis will NOT occur.  You are too busy trying to impress colleges so you have to be “all in”

4. Ask for help….Necessity of the Other!!  Don’t try to do this alone because it could back fire.   You’ve worked too hard to jeopardize your future college dreams.  Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; but rather a sign of maturity and accountability (that’s YOU).

5. Breathe and remember not to focus on the negative instead appreciate the fact that you are applying to college and all great things require effort.  You are so close – stay the course!