Finding motivation for school is tough after a long winter break––especially when you only have one semester standing between you and graduation. While you may be tempted to slack off until May rolls around, you may find yourself running into a variety of last minute road blocks. No need to worry, though. We’ve got the solutions to all of your second semester problems!
1. Deciding on a college
If you’re at the point where you’ve been accepted into numerous schools, yet you have no idea where you want to go, you’re actually in a great position. According to Dr. Joie Jager-Hyman, author and founder and president of College Prep 360, “Admitted students get the red carpet treatment, so take advantage of that!” Once you’ve been accepted, that college clearly wants you to attend. “They will make themselves available to you to plan campus visits, match you with students who can host you overnight and help you find interesting classes to attend,” Dr. Jager-Hyman says.
She recommends all of these options in order to determine your school of choice, as well as talking to real students and checking out clubs. You’ll know which college is right for you in no time!
Related: 5 Mistakes to Avoid Senior Year of High School
2. Having a lack of options for colleges
On the other hand, you may not have been accepted to a lot of schools (or at least your number one pick). If this is the case, don’t worry! Dr. Jager-Hyman says that most colleges make their admission decisions in the spring, so there’s still plenty of time left.
In the meantime, talk with your high school counselor and let them know of your first choice school. “You can ask him or her to call and advocate on your behalf if you are certain you would attend that college if admitted,” she says. Your counselor can also be extremely helpful if you’ve been waitlisted, whether that be writing a formal letter on your behalf or assisting you in reaching out on your own.
Throughout the semester, if you have any updates regarding new test scores, awards, leadership positions, or anything else to add to your application, feel free to email the admissions office! This does a variety of good things for you, like showing that you care about that school as well as your commitment to hard work.
3. Stressing about financing college
College is undoubtedly an expensive investment. Before committing to a college, be sure to sit down with your parents and discuss finances. Additionally, one of the best things to do is apply for scholarships (a lot of them!).
Devan, a sophomore at Pitt State University did so before going into her freshman year. “Throughout my senior year and the summer before I went away for college, I probably applied for over 200 scholarships,” she says. “A lot of them didn’t even require an essay and were really easy! I definitely didn’t get them all, but I was way better off than I would have been.” If that’s not enough, Dr. Jager-Hyman says that you can always reach out to schools to discuss financial aid packages.
4. Not wanting to graduate
While most seniors are ready to start the next chapter of their lives, a lot of seniors aren’t ready to move on quite yet––and that’s perfectly okay. Whether you’re afraid of so much change or you’re going to be far away from your friends, there are plenty of valid reasons that you may never want to graduate!
Dr. Jager-Hyman says that high school does a great job preparing you for your next step in life and that you have so much to look forward to. “College is the place where you will start making the decisions about your life that shape who you will become,” she says. “You’ll live in a diverse community with peers from all over the world and learn as much from your friends as you do from your classes. There’s a reason that so many people call it the best years of their lives!” Time to get excited!
5. Having zero motivation
Let’s be honest, senioritis is real AF. While you may be tempted to give into procrastination, skipping class, and more––don’t. “Colleges can rescind admission decisions if there are dramatic changes in an academic record, so be careful not to slack off too much,” Dr. Jager-Hyman says. “You’ve worked hard for 3.5 years, so don’t let it all slip away for one bad semester.” She’s exactly right! You shouldn’t let laziness overshadow all of your hard work.
To avoid the senior slump, you should first of all get (or stay) organized. Set both short-term and long-term goals for school – such as a certain GPA, test scores, etc. Peyton, a freshman at North Carolina State University says that buying a planner saved her life senior year. “January of my senior year was the worst. I had no motivation whatsoever, and my graders were starting to show that,” she says. “I decided to get a huge planner, map out assignments, test dates, deadlines, and more. It became my lifeline, so I definitely recommend getting one if you don’t already have one!”
As much as you wish you could just skip the entire semester and go right to graduation, there’s still plenty left to do before then! Not only should you keep working hard and attempt to avoid any problems that may come about, but you should also focus on enjoying the time you have left in high school. Senior year only happens once––while it may come with a variety of issues, it’s one of the best years of your life!