3 minute read
There’s a myth floating around the high school universe that senior year is for taking it easy. And that may be true in some ways – junior year is usually the most academically rigorous, sophomore year gives many students their first taste of big stakes standardized testing, and freshman year is primarily about figuring out how to navigate new social and academic norms. Although course loads might look lighter in senior year, students should consider their last two semesters as more of a steady sprint to the finish than a time to coast. We recommend getting a head start on the following goals to ensure a smooth senior year.
1. Be realistic about self-care. Bodies need rest.
We tend to think about our activities in the extremes – rest or busyness. Barely moving from the couch or rushing from task to task. Neither will serve students well during their senior year, and the earlier that parents, caregivers, and students can have a frank conversation about the balance between rest and work, the better.
As students know their workloads and mental health best, they can try to clearly communicate their needs. And in return, we, as parents and caregivers, can aim to support our students as lovingly and open-hearted as possible, knowing that our student’s mental and physical well-being is the greatest gift we can give them.
2. Pencil in important dates for the semester on a calendar.
Senior year goes quite quickly, and major events like homecoming, prom, and graduation will bring their own details and logistics to be planned. It’s no small feat to remember academic deadlines on top of all of these commitments.
Focusing on one semester at a time, we recommend that students jot down reminders on a paper or digital calendar to which they can easily and frequently refer. Helpful dates to note are college application (including early action or early decision dates), scholarship, and internship deadlines; registration dates (and test dates) for the ACT and SAT; AP test dates and reminders to study for each subject; and the FAFSA deadline.
Although deadlines for most pieces of the college application process are fairly firm, if a student misses a deadline, all hope is not lost. After taking a deep breath, the student should contact a representative, explain the situation, and ask if a deadline extension is possible.
3. Sneak in brainstorming as early as possible.
The best way to prepare for questions and essays in The Common App or other more specific applications is to start reviewing and thinking about the questions significantly before the deadlines. This is logical – it’s always better to have more review time than less. But there’s an even more important reason to start considering questions early, and it has to do with brain science.
The brain’s main job is to keep its human alive, and it does a really good job each and every day. When we start to feel stressed, our brains treat the stress as a mild threat. In reacting to this threat, the brain sends “alert” signals by way of stress hormones, which in turn block information processing. Put simply, when a student’s brain is stressed, they may feel almost unable to tap into their creative, problem-solving side. College application-related stress likely can’t be completely eliminated, but it can be minimized with early planning instead of waiting until the hours before a deadline.
4. Accept that writer’s block is expected and normal.
After writing in school, doing homework, and all sorts of creative extracurriculars, it makes sense that many students would experience writer’s block when sitting down and attempting to write a college essay. Revered writers like Leo Tolstoy and Virginia Woolf had quite a bit of trouble with writer’s block, and they didn’t even have to designate brain space for email inboxes.
Students can treat writer’s block kind of like a bruise – it’s a nuisance that will soon go away, but it’s also a reminder to take a little more care in the future. Attempting to power through writer’s block is usually ineffective, and it’s a better tactic to give the brain some rest and recharging before the next essay attempt.
5. Start scoping out dorm needs.
Purchasing decor for a dorm a year before move-in would be a tad premature, but students can start thinking about what they would like to take with them to school the following Fall. For students who gain more comfort from bright and familiar surroundings, making a list of which items from their rooms they’ll take is a great start.
Planning ahead for a dorm is also a great cost-saving technique. Families can start browsing thrift stores or their local BuyNothing groups to find pre-loved college essentials, which are eco-friendly alternatives to buying new. Beginning to back-to-school shop early also minimizes the chaos of last-minute purchases with other families who are sending students to their first year of college.
Senior year’s celebrations and disappointments and joys and stresses are a one-of-a-kind experience, and finding a balance between the social and academic worlds can sometimes be a challenge. We hope that The Answer Class’ tips help incoming seniors feel less anxious — and more excited about what is to come — and also help to begin and/or re-start important conversations between students and their parents and caregivers.
Our SAT and ACT prep classes are available in person and live, virtually all year long to squeeze into any packed senior schedule. Find the best fit for your family today!