Surviving the senior year of high school

By the time many high-schoolers reach senior year, few things can faze them. After three years of moving up the totem pole, seniors often feel as if there’s nothing high school can throw at them which they can’t handle and that they’re on top of the world.

As many seniors find out, however, the last year of high school can be as hard or harder than the years before it and now is not the time to take a laid-back approach to schoolwork. Consider the following tips.

Don’t procrastinate

Plenty of high school grads have put off their responsibilities until it’s almost too late and have then spent the last month or so of high school scrambling to catch up.

Be sure to get college applications done in the first semester, and don’t put yourself in a position where you have to work extra hard at the end of the school year to pass all of your classes.

Stay motivated

While it’s common for high school seniors to take a more lax approach to their studies during that final year, it’s also shortsighted.

Students who worked hard for the first three years of high school should use that hard work as motivation to maintain their solid GPAs through the end of high school.

Colleges with extra scholarship money might reexamine aide applications after you’ve enrolled, so maintaining good academic standing during senior year can earn applicants more money.

Avoid burnout

While procrastinating and losing motivation are common pitfalls for high school seniors, burnout is as well.

Many seniors find themselves overwhelmed when applying to and visiting colleges, keeping up with their studies, working a part-time job and participating in extracurricular activities.

Be sure to go out and have fun with friends as well. Senior year of high school should be an enjoyable time, too.

Ask for help

Senior year of high school, particularly when applying to colleges, can be overwhelming at times. The good news is that many have been there before you.

If you’re struggling with yet another college essay, ask an older brother or sister or a teacher for help. Help is even provided by schools in the way of guidance counselors, who are there to help navigate you through the process as smoothly as possible.