Victoria Berels
Congratulations, seniors! You’ve applied to your top choice schools. Many of you have received acceptances and put your deposit down on your future home. Some of you may still be waiting on acceptances from schools or deciding between a few good options. Wherever you may be on your college process, there is one common pitfall to avoid: senioritis.
Though you are wrapping up your high school career, many of the soft skills you have picked up in this stage will carry over to college. Don’t get rusty! Here are a few reasons why you should avoid senioritis:
1. You’ll Need to Take Notes in College
Though you may feel that you can skate by this semester, you definitely won’t be able to your first semester of freshman year. Your first year of college you’ll be thrown the learning curve of learning how to manage your time, joining clubs, studying for your classes, and even doing your laundry. Slacking in school your second semester of senior year will only detract from your ability to do this freshman year.
2. Use Your Free Time for Career Building
If you spend less time on your academics, consider doing research into your chosen industry for after college graduation. The more you know about this industry before you enter college, the more ability you will have to strategically choose classes and activities in college that will lead you to your goal. For example, if you are considering becoming a lawyer, research potential law schools, competitive LSAT scores, and different industries that lawyers work in so that you have a clear picture of what you would do in this career. If you can motivate yourself, we even recommend arranging a job shadow or seeking internship this summer just to give yourself an idea of what is possible.
3. Don’t Lose Your Scholarship!
You may have received a scholarship from your school of choice for some combination of your GPA and ACT or SAT score. When you were given this money, it came with the expectation that you would keep up your high GPA through graduation into college. Letting your grades fall to the wayside could cause you to lose your scholarship and throw a wrench into how you may pay for college.
4. Apply for the FAFSA (If You Haven’t Already)
If you haven’t applied for the FAFSA, don’t put it off any longer! Though the FAFSA technically closes June 30th, 2018, don’t wait till then to apply for aid. Some colleges have their own deadlines as early as March 1st, so make sure you know the whole story. Sit down with your parents and get additional funding for college before it runs out.
If you require assistance with deciding on the right college for you, searching for scholarships, or applying for the FAFSA, don’t delay in making an appointment with our experts at Parros College Planning. We are more than happy to assist in these matters and more.
