With college just around the corner, your senior year can be nerve-wracking, filled with emotion, and endlessly exciting all at the same time! It’s no wonder that students find themselves feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle the year ahead of them.
To help you successfully navigate this pivotal year, here is a list of some of the most important ways to keep yourself grounded and focused on the next few months ahead of you.
Stay Organized
In your senior year, you’ll have a lot to juggle. Between regular classes, assignments and tests, college research and admission exams, campus visits, counseling sessions, extracurricular activities, and maintaining your own social life, there’s plenty of room to drop the ball.
In order to avoid that feeling of overwhelm, you’ll need to make sure you’re staying organized. Use tools like a digital calendar with reminders for deadlines and events and daily to-do lists to help you stay on top of everything and alleviate some of the stress.
Research College Options
Your senior year is a time of big decisions, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Start researching your college options as early as possible, and get a feel for the academic programs, campus culture, etc., of each of your choices.
Find out about financial aid, residence, and student support, so you can have a clear idea of what your life might be like at a particular college. This will help you to make better decisions and understand what will be expected of you when the time for college admissions rolls around.
Maintain a Balanced Schedule
Every high school senior knows that there’s going to be a lot on their plates for those last few months of their high school careers. Working hard and really focusing on your grades during this time is important and it’s normal to zone in a little harder than usual.
However, even in these seemingly extreme circumstances, having balance in your life is still crucial. Make sure your schedule still allows time for rest (not just sleeping!), socializing, exercise, and other forms of self-care that you really rely on.
Master Your Time Management
In order to achieve this so-called “balance” in senior year, you’re going to need to learn to manage your time wisely. You won’t be able to afford time for proper time off (in the form of seeing friends or going for a hike) if you waste two hours a day scrolling on social media when you should be studying.
Be sure to use your “on” time efficiently and focus on your work so that you have an hour or two each day to truly switch off and rest.
Seek Support and Guidance
Finally, remember that just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean that you’re all grown up and don’t need anyone’s help. It’s perfectly normal (and quite a good idea) to reach out for guidance during this year.
Whether you need professional college guidance, tutoring for your exams, or even just simple emotional support when the stress gets too much, make sure you reach out to the right people.
