Sean Carter
As a high school student, it can be difficult to concentrate on your schoolwork during your senior year. Sports, dating, and social activities can become major distractions. It’s all too easy to feel as though you already have completed everything necessary to begin the next chapter in your life, and senior year is viewed as break time. However, it is important that you figure out what it is you want to do with your future so that you can start preparing for it.
You don’t want to end up going to a school without any sort of plan for your education; this will result in wasted time and money. You also need to focus on applying in a timely manner, so that your chances of getting into a school you like are better. The following are a few things that you should keep in mind during the last year of high school in order to get into one of the colleges that you want to attend.
Determining what you want to major in will only help your chances of getting into a good school. Beyond doing well in the classroom, many schools look at your extracurricular activities to determine if they are interested in you. If you can find some clubs or activities outside of school that pertain to your field of study before your senior year, you’ll be in excellent shape. For example, if you want to study to be a nurse or a doctor, volunteering at a nursing home will reflect positively on your record. If you are looking to gain knowledge in the realm of law, a bachelors in paralegal studies could be for you If you’re uncertain what you want to study in college, your best bet is to explore your interests through some clubs and do some volunteer work in the community.
The application process is much easier when you know what area of study interests you. In addition to good grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities; you’ll want to have teacher recommendations. Be sure to ask a teacher who has something to do with your intended major. If you plan on studying chemistry, for example, you’ll want recommendations from science teachers.
When choosing a university, remember that in-state schools are more affordable than most other options. If you are accepted to several comparable schools, factor this in, as it could save you quite a bit of debt. Be sure to apply to several schools. Your list should include one reach school, several that are more realistic, and one or two safety schools. By approaching the applications this way, you’ll increase your chances of going to a good school in the fall. Sometimes online college degree programs could be the best fit for what you are looking for
These are a few important steps to take when in your senior year of high school. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin looking for colleges to continue your education. Talk to your guidance counselor and start looking online today.
