21 Tips for Incoming Seniors

Here is the thing Senior Year was fun! But it could have been a lot easier... So I want to help my lower classmen friends before they embark on this crazy, stressful, beautiful mess called senior year.

Here are ... tips to help you out and they are totally in a random order so have fun! Comment anything that should be added! :)



1. Don't Sign Up For All The Hard Classes - I can not stress this enough! I had 4 AP classes this year and I should have only took 3 at the most. Senior year is going to be really stressful and if you can lighten the load DO IT! Your mind will thank you later.
2. Don't Stress Senior Pictures - Whether the are for the yearbook or professionally done DONT STRESS. They are just pictures maybe you hate them or whatever but if you stress it not only causes you to think to much and takes the fun out but also if you are stressed it will show in your pictures.
3. Get Letters of Rec ASAP - Scholarships are going to come out of no where and you want to be prepared. But it is totally rude to spring fast deadlines on teachers and coaches. And you want a really good letter of rec. so ask early in the year and just keep them on file and make copies when you need them.
4. Write and Update A Resume - This goes back to the scholarship thing if you have it on file you will be able to deal with last minute scholarships a with ease.
5. Scholarships Are A Big Deal - If you didn't know already. So keep up with them read about the requirements, deadlines, and when you will find out. APPLY FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN. I can't stress this enough. I applied to 40+ and kept going. I recently was just awarded a scholarship from the Quilting Guild because I used to quilt when I was like 10. SO KEEP APPLYING. But don't be upset if you don't get it, I've gotten plenty of emails stating that I was not chosen. You just have to remember that there are many people who apply and that life happens. The world isn't against you.
6. Make Friends With Your Counselor or Who Ever Helps With College Stuff - Here is the thing people have favorites. Make sure you have a good relationship with counselors and college techs. They can help you out and put in a good word for you.
7. Know the Difference Between a Grant and a Loan - A grant is money given by the federal government that you don't have to pay back.  A loan is one that you have to pay back which includes interest.
8. Most Colleges Give Grants - Not only does the Federal Government give away free money but most colleges offer grants. See they apply to you!
9. Not Getting Scholarships Is Okay -Considering I applied to 40+ scholarships and I just came back from my scholarship night with a couple scholarships I'm feeling kinda crappy. Lots of my friends got thousands upon thousands of scholarships and I'm feeling pretty low. Where am I going with this? Oh yeah... Most people aren't going to be able to pay everything off with scholarships. But with grants, financial aid, summer jobs, and money family or friends give you. You will be able to pay for college.
10. Don't Let Money Dictate Your Dreams - So maybe you come from a poor family and you have a dream school but don't think you are going to be able to afford it. I say go for your dreams. I have this friend who wanted to go to a 4 year university but in the end opted for a JC because she was stressed about the cost. And in the end she received so much scholarship money that she could have pulled enough off to go to a 4 year. So don't let money hold you back.
11. Senior Isn't Actually All That Fun - That is pretty self-explanatory. Although you are graduating, that happens at the end of the year. You still have plenty of stuff to do before then.
12. Don't Cram - Senioritis is a real thing. So instead of trying to cram before exams try and pay attention throughout both semesters and keep your grades up so that when it comes down to the wire you don't have to worry about grades and you can finally relax.
13. Scholarship Time Management - Scholarships start coming out early fall and continue to come out until maybe April depending on the scholarship. But always have a copy of your transcripts, letters of rec, personal statement, resume, list of activities and awards, sat/act scores, and ap scores so you can always just make more copies and staple together scholarships. Most scholarships just ask for an personal statement so you can often use the same essay. KEEP TRACK OF DEADLINES. I missed a huge scholarship deadline and I hate myself everyday for it so pay attention!
14.  MAKE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL - Most colleges don't want NiallHoranLover96@hotmail.com or BabyMama@yahoo.com to go to their school. And once you get a professional email CHECK IT DAILY MULITPLE TIMES. And I would definitely recommend a gmail because of the use of the google drive.
15.  If You Didn't Know... You Are Graduating This Year - I am definitely not the most confident person when it comes to high school. But what really got me out of my comfort zone my senior year was the fact that after this year I was moving on with my life. I didn't care what others thought because I'm a senior and after this year I never have to see most of these people ever again. So who cares what they think now?
16. Your Mom Is Probably Going To Cry At Random Things - Not only is the fact that you are growing up scary for you but its also scary your parents. Don't get crazy just let them hug you and take pictures because hey they aren't going to be right there forever.  
17. DO NOT GO TO COLLEGE OR STAY IN TOWN FOR A GIRL/BOY - OH MY GOODNESS. Please for the love of all the sweet baby children of this world do not do this. How old are you like 17? You have so much to do and explore do not let one person hold you back because you are in "love." You don't even have to break up with them but take some space. Find out who you really are. My great grandmother always believed that each young women should take a year to find herself before she settled down, I truly believe this and this applies to young men as well. SO DON'T LET A GF/BF HOLD YOU BACK.
18. Pay For Things In Advanced - Pay for stuff like Grad Night, Yearbooks, Cap and Gown etc. early because by the end of the year money is going to be flowing out like nobody's business.
19. Don't Be Exclusive - I'll admit that senior year often kids have a smaller friend circle. But don't just stop making friends. My senior year I had a blast and made a bunch of new friends. Senior activities are way more fun when you have a big group of friends. Even if you aren't super close best friends its way more fun to have a big group of friends plus your super close tight knit of friends.
20. Don't Slack Of And Miss A Lot Of School - I am definitely guilty of this in addition to the many seniors who just had their mom call the school and went home when they felt like it. To graduate you can only miss so many days so don't screw it up just because you didn't feel like going to 7th period.
21. Don't Be Stupid - Before you do that senior prank or post that thing on twitter just think is it worth not graduating? Because you are so close. And it could be gone in an instant.



First Day Of Senior Year