Senior year of High School is bittersweet. It consists of all the fun activities with the feels with it. One moment you’re living it up with your childhood buddies while the other you’re excited about what the future holds. Well, with that said, the most important bit of it all is the classes that can’t be missed and the college applications that require a big chunk of your time. If you’re confused as to how to manage all of these at the same time, here are some tips for you to survive as a senior in high school.
Have a plan
It’s difficult to live in the moment and not worry about the future. It’s time you dive deep into what you really want your future to look like. If you wish to go to college, it’s important to have a plan in place beforehand. Picking the right college many of the challenges you face in your final year of school. To effectively do it, you must acknowledge how you are as a person – sure it’s a difficult question to answer in an instant but trust me it’s important!
To pick a place you must begin by asking some hard-hit questions. Begin by thinking about yourself as a person and build on it. Few examples to get started are as follows:
- Are you okay with being swallowed by a huge group of students or will it be okay for you to be in a small, intimate setting?
- Are you willing to relocate? If yes, what options do you have on living on and off-campus? If you plan on willing to live off-campus, how long would the commute be and the cost it’ll have associated with it.
- Do you see yourself spending the next four years in a hustle-bustle city or would a college in suburbs be okay with you?
- How many colleges are known well for the major you wish to pursue?
- Do you have the grades and needless to say, the SAT or ACT score to be eligible to apply?
- Are the colleges you’re considering within your budget? If not, are there options to work in or off-campus to support your living there?
- Do you see yourself in that particular area in the future? Are there options for internships and eventually, jobs in that area?
The aforementioned are few examples to get you going to draw out a rough plan or rather a draft list of colleges to look forward to. If you’re still confused or get stuck, do not shy away from seeking help from your guidance counselors or even turn to LinkedIn and try to strike up conversations with the alumni of the colleges you dream to attend in the future. Not only would it give you an idea about the pros and cons of the options at hand but will also give you a clear picture of what your viability after graduating college would be like.
2. Look for financing options
Colleges are expensive. If you’re lucky your parents would fund it but completely being dependent on them for it is not fair. With that said, it is also imperative to take into account the plethora of expenses that come with the tuition fee. Needless to say, there are various hidden charges that students tend to overlook while setting up a budget. From your living expenses to eating and taking care of yourself while at college, there are many more that are impossible to account for. However, there’s nothing to stress out about, colleges come with multiple funding options worth looking into.
A lot of colleges around the country offer financial aid for students with an outstanding academic track record. In addition to that, there are various scholarships available as well. If you’re into sports or did a good job at being the class president among other things, colleges really admire that and resultantly, that might open big doors for you. Furthermore, there are also options with respect to college debt that the government provides. These loans come with a pretty meager interest rate and come with the added advantage of repayment beginning post-graduation. Not only are these loans flexible but can come in handy in case you exhaust all your other financing options.
3. Spend time with friends and family
As mentioned, this time is fairly special not only for you but also for your friends and family. Your friends are going through the same rigor and pressure as you are and hence, it is important to blow off this steam by talking it out and spending time with each other. Amidst the chaos, you can plan on activities which not only are cheap but also executable, with your friends. Plans like a fun weekend road trip to a movie night or just a silly game night could be an ideal plan or rather an excuse to not think about the future that seems too uncertain at this moment.
It is pertinent to take your family into account as well. This time is also kind of tough for them as their little child will be off to college in a few months or days and hence, have too many emotions to express. It is important you make time for them as well. Try to have meals on the weekends with them and just talk about things that don’t have much to do with what lies ahead. Not only will it help you unwind but will also allow them to share how they’re feeling as well – a perfect win-win situation!
4. Have fun!
The most important takeaway of the time is to just have fun. Live in the moment and try to take as much in as possible. Go around your school, try to reconnect with your school teachers, and ask for advice for the future. With that, you can also explore your own city like a tourist as before you know it, you’ll be calling a whole new place your new home. Make sure you make the most of this time with the people that matter as this time will never come back. Now, you must be wondering as to how you can make time for all of these things without having to cut back from the college applications or rather the time-consuming essays lined up. According to PaperHelp, many students are looking for assistance with their essays and luckily, they know where they can find it.
Conclusion
Surviving as a senior isn’t an easy task and while you might have ups and downs, that can be the best period in your life and you should enjoy yourself as much as you can.
