Stresses of Senior Year

Stresses+of+Senior+Year

“Have you applied to any colleges yet?”

“Make sure you do lots of things this year. Schools like to see that on applications!”

“SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOLARSHIPS.”

Senior year is quite possibly one of the most stressful years of life. One day you’re asking for a pass to use the restroom and the next you have to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. It seems that every day someone is asking where you want to study for the next four or more years and even what you want to study. It’s such a monumental decision, and sometimes it’s hard to tell where seniors should be at in this decision-making process.

By now, hopefully you have applied to a school or two. It can be challenging to decide what school you want to go to, so it’s easier to determine what kind of school you want to go to (class sizes, location, financial aid, etc.) and choose a few schools that fit that description. Once you’ve been accepted to some schools, take some visits and choose the school that best suits your needs.

FAFSA: perhaps one of the most important forms you will fill out in your life. This form determines how much money you can receive in financial aid while you are in college. By now, the FAFSA form is available, but cannot be completed until your parents have filed their taxes. So what can you be doing until you complete that form? Applying for scholarships! College tuition isn’t cheap, but thankfully there are thousands of scholarships to apply for. Always be checking for emails from your school counselor who will let you know when certain scholarships are available, and make sure to go to the guidance office and pick up as many scholarships as you can.

“What are you going to study in school?” The question that every teacher and adult in your life has asked you at least five times this year. This is a big decision because you are deciding for the rest of your life. If you’re not sure right now, THAT IS OKAY. Most colleges and universities provide services that can help you determine what career field suits you, and you always have the option of changing you major. However, when making this decision, know that if you pursue something that you truly love and are passionate about, you will have made the best decision possible.

The last and most important thing you should be doing this year is having fun. It is very easy to get caught up in all the applications and college visits and lose sight of the opportunities that are right in front of you. Go to the basketball game, stay up all night watching movies with your friends, and go to prom. You may not realize it, but the memories you make this year will last a lifetime.