BELLA:
When I was a freshman, I had no idea what was going to happen in my senior year. To be honest, I was barely getting started in thinking about college when I was a freshman. Learn from my mistakes and take my advice, future seniors. Start prepping for college as early as you can, even if that means prepping your freshman year.
Going to college is one of the best things a high schooler can do. The question is how to prepare for college, it’s simple. In freshman and junior years, there is testing such as the practice ACT, AZSci, and the ACT. My recommendation is to set these tests as benchmarks for your high school progression into college. These tests will measure your potential as a student and can be seen in many college applications. One key point you will need to keep in mind, especially as a junior and incoming college freshman, is to ask for help. You will need to contact teachers, go to tutoring, and more. Utilize your resources! I struggled months leading up to the ACT in my junior year because I made the mistake of leaving my studies behind to be “in the moment.
During your first semester as a senior, it is important to start setting deadlines for college. Start filling out scholarships in September to get the fastest results. In my case, I started filling out scholarships in March, and as a result, I need to catch up quickly as graduation approaches. To get ahead of the curve for scholarships and FAFSA, start the applications in January or even sooner. Another key point in college to look out for is school life. The deadlines for housing applications, roommates, and meal plans arrive quicker than you think. You’d think the process of picking a roommate is easy, but it isn’t. Once again, I would advise starting to search for a roommate as soon as the applications are available to gain the best experience in your freshman year in college.
One last piece of advice that I often forget about is to enjoy my high school experience. It might seem stressful preparing for college, but it is equally important to prioritize yourself. Take the time to indulge in your hobbies, take time hanging out with friends, and take time to enjoy your teenage years.
HUGO:
High school can be an interesting experience for many students whether we’re navigating what classes one should enroll in, what extracurricular activities one shall participate in, and shaping our own academic career as we go but once a student enters their senior year that’s when they have to make a plan for their future that just might affect their lives forever.
Senior year of high school can be one of the most challenging years that one might face because this is where it all ends after entering high school all those years ago as a freshmen. For many seniors, this might be their last chance to take advantage of their resources as I believe that the college & career center can be a perfect place to set them for a brighter future ahead of them whether it’s going to college, attending a trade school, or enlisting in the military.
Wondering how you should prepare now for life after you graduate? My first recommendation would be to attend a two year college or a four year university because as crazy as it sounds you may never know on how much scholarships you may qualify for maintaining a good GPA and this opens doors to many opportunities that you may have never imagined of before. My second recommendation is to attend a trade school as I personally believe that this is a really good alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to attend college but still wants to have a career that they’ll enjoy. My third piece of advice is to start planning your future early, because deadlines for FAFSA, scholarships, and college applications come quickly. You don’t want to be one of those people who waits until the last minute, as that could put you at risk of missing out on some amazing opportunities. Those are my main three pieces of advice for anyone who wants to build a successful career and take full advantage of the resources their school has to offer.
One final piece of advice I’d like to share with you that’s unrelated to academics is to enjoy your time in high school, because sometimes students including myself, get so focused on their studies that they forget to appreciate the overall high school experience.
