The second half of senior year has begun, and you might be feeling a bit of spring fever. Graduation will be here before you know it, and you’ll be off to enjoy an exciting new chapter of your life. Many seniors say that they feel burned out at this time, but one day you’ll look back at these few months as one of the most exciting times of your life.
These six tips can help you make the most of your last semester in high school, and continue preparing for college.
Continue to keep your grades up. Even if you’ve already been accepted to your top-choice colleges, and perhaps even earned a scholarship, this is no time to flake out on your studies. If you slip into bad habits now, it will be harder to get back into the study groove this fall. Your GPA is still important in the event that you apply for additional scholarships. Plus, there’s always the tiny chance you could outright fail a class that is required to graduate. You definitely don’t want to do that!
Enjoy your Prom (safely). Prom might be one of the highlights of your senior year. Plan early, so that you can make it a night to remember. But please, avoid alcohol or other risky behaviors. One night of fun is not worth the rest of your life.
Start thinking about your college major. Even if you feel certain about your future major, but especially if you’re unsure, pick up an introductory textbook on that subject to flip through it (you can order an older edition online, without spending a ton of money). Of course, textbooks can come off as dry, so visiting your future college campus and sitting in on some classes would be even more helpful.
Spend Spring Break wisely. You’ll want to have fun on Spring Break, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But consider using at least one day of your break to visit your future college or “shadow” a professional in your chosen field.
Apply for campus housing. Some schools randomly assign housing, while others allow you to submit a form stating your top preferences. There is no guarantee you’ll get into your preferred dorm, but it can’t hurt to try. Investigate your dorm options, keeping in mind proximity to expected classes, meal options, laundromats, and anything else that is important to you.
Continue your scholarship search. Even if you’ve already bagged a great scholarship to your chosen school, you can continue applying for private scholarships. These can often be applied to housing, meal plans, books and fees, helping you afford a more comfortable budget (and rely less on loans).
Remember… Final acceptance is based on your final transcript. If your grades fall too much, you can be uninvited. Don’t stop working just because you’ve reached your final semester in high school.