Category Archives: Senior Portraits

Senior year is full of lasts, the same + all new.

The lasts I talk about a lot – and then a little bit more. Celebrating the final homecoming week, last year being in the student section, last soccer game, music concert, play…

The ‘sames’ that should be on repeat are getting good grades, strong study habits, adding to your service hours and extracurriculars.

Then you come to the all new side going into senior year…

College visits, figuring out where your top 3-5 colleges will be, filling out the Common App + FAFSA and other senior-only tasks.

We’re going to focus on the new and your college adventure!

Have you visited any colleges?

Will you be visiting more this Fall?

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK::

• Does the college offer your major + many other areas of study {18-year-olds have been known to change their minds mid-way through}?
• Are professors available to students {in + out of class}?
• What are the class sizes for 100-200 level class + area of study?
• Will the academic programs challenge you?
• What are the internship + study-abroad opportunities?
• Will the school offer financial aid?
• How affordable is the school after any financial aid?
• What’s life like outside of campus {city/town life, weather, distance from home}?
• What athletics or arts does the campus offer?
• What are the dining options?
• Is career counseling available, along with alumni success stories {graduation rates}?
• While you’re on campus does it feel like it could be a home away from home {is it a good fit for you}?

You’ve got your questions ready – what’s next?

September – February

1/ VISIT:: some campus’ in the Fall:: Most campus’ have scheduled visit days

2/ RANK:: your short list:: 3-5 schools is plenty to apply to

3/ STAY FOCUSED:: Colleges still look at your senior year grades + activities

4/ ACT/SAT:: If you haven’t done it already take the ACT or SAT in the Fall {you can re-take in the Winter + Spring}

5/ MAKE A LIST:: Start a spreadsheet with all the deadlines so you don’t miss out

6/ CONNECT WITH COUNSELOR EARLY:: Might surprise ya, but you’re not the only one asking your counselor to send transcripts or getting letters of rec – START EARLY

7/ COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATIONS:: Get your applications filled out + essay’s written for your short list schools {Common App opened August 1st}.

8/ FAFSA:: 2020-2021 opens October 1 + some college scholarships are FIRST COME – FIRST GET!

9/ REVIEW COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID:: If you file early the award packages should arrive by late November – keep on top of your short list schools.

March – July

10/ LAST PREP:: Not happy with your ACT/SAT score then retake them one last time

11/ TIME TO CHOOSE:: Notify your lucky school by May 1 that you’re coming

12/ CONFIRMATION:: Have you received your FAFSA confirmation? Your award letter?

13/ GET TALKIN’:: Attend scheduled college events, connect with your roommate(s), go to the summer orientation

It’s a BIG YEAR, but remember to make it a FUN YEAR! Celebrate all the lasts this year + look ahead so you can go into the next chapter prepared and ready to live YOUR best college life.

TIME SAVER #1:: Common App opened August 1st. Save time by checking out which of your schools use Common App so you only have to fill out one application to send to multiple schools. After talking to a few college admission advisors we were told that she receives the applications and it doesn’t tell her which comes from Common App & which were filled out on their website.

TIME SAVER #2:: Essay writing – Edit your main essay question in a document you save so you can revise it to fit future application essay’s when possible. Your focus still needs to be on your studies, activities, enjoying your LASTS…not obsessing over essay number nine that you need create.

Want more college help?

Have a peek at these past posts::

Just Starting the College Search

5 Tips to Help with the College Search

College Tips 2.0

CHEERS & SPARKLES to your search!

💖Andrea

P.S. We started college visits sophomore year to get some easy questions out of the way {big – medium – small school feels better / sports matter – don’t matter / how far from home} Can’t hurt to get a head start.

P.P.S. Know someone who would like these tips? e-mail them this link to help out so they can stop stressing and keep having fun in these last high school years {or months}😉