High School Survival Guide - Senior Year

And finally, the last year of high school—your senior year. This is the year when you will submit your college applications and wait for the day fate arrives. But before that, before the school year even begins, you should start writing your essays over the summer. This is a perfect time to make numerous edits and ask your friends, family, teachers, or others for support and feedback to create the best essays possible. This is also the time to wrap up other aspects of the college application, such as taking the SAT if you are not yet satisfied with your score. That way, when the school year starts and you have many things to fill out, you won’t have to face the pressure of taking the SAT or other standardized tests in your country or the country where you plan to attend.

During the first few months of the school year, it can be the most stressful time of your entire high school experience. However, don’t let that affect your grades. Your grades from the first half of senior year are still considered when applying to colleges, so try to work as hard as possible. Once your college applications are submitted, you can relax a bit and enjoy your life. Remember, high school lasts only a short time, and the people around you right now may not be with you when you go to college.

As I mentioned before, you should not engage in extracurricular activities solely to enhance your college application. You want to make an impact in your community and drive positive change. So, continue your extracurricular activities even after submitting your college applications. This demonstrates that you are someone who takes initiative to resolve ongoing problems in your community.

After you’ve submitted your application and received your results, it’s time to plan for studying in college, especially for those traveling long distances to other countries. There will be many changes and things you need to think about and prepare for in order to thrive in college. First, consider what to bring with you. What items do you think will come in handy? Personally, I had to look for information online, and you can do the same. Ask people who have already attended college what they brought, how much money they needed, and how they coped with the new culture and food. These are all aspects that can lead to culture shock when you start college, so preparing yourself with knowledge about what to expect in a new country is essential.

A very helpful piece of advice is to join communities for students studying abroad, especially those of your nationality at the specific college you’ll be attending. When entering a new environment, it’s common to feel scared and struggle to adapt. Connecting with people from your nationality at your college can provide you with a sense of belonging and understanding. They can offer insights on how to live and thrive during your college years, especially when studying abroad, where many things may differ from your home country.

Finally, spend time with your family. You’ve spent the last 17 or 18 years with your parents, and now you’re preparing to go to college, which will eventually lead to work and starting your own family. This may be the last time you can spend long periods with your family every day, so cherish these moments. Show them how much you appreciate them and do anything that can strengthen your bonds with your parents and siblings. When you do go to college and see them only once or twice a year, you’ll be proud and happy to say that you had an amazing connection with your family.

Best of luck to you!