Senior year of high school is an exciting time full of possibilities! There is a lot to think about in terms of classes, careers, and colleges. It’s an important time to make memories, have fun, and reflect on your plans for your future.

In this article, we will discuss 10 pieces of advice for high school seniors (12th graders). Start your senior year feeling prepared! Know what to expect as you move forward during this pivotal year.

1. Spend time with family and friends

Senior year is an important time to make memories and spend time with the people (and pets!) you love. Regardless of whether or not you decide to go to college, or move away from your hometown, senior year is a big transition. Rely on your loved ones for support as you navigate your senior year. Family members will likely have valuable senior year advice for you as well. Focus on spending quality time with your loved ones, strengthening your relationships, and sharing memories.

2. Start college applications early

College applications can be stressful. They require a lot of research and reflection – on top of preparing the actual application materials. Some helpful senior year advice: Start your college applications early! Especially your college essay. Brainstorm topics, write several drafts, and seek out feedback from peers, parents, and teachers. This will allow you to take your time to edit your applications materials, prioritize, and limit stress. Be sure to ask for your letters of recommendation early as well. This is an important senior year tip! Teachers can get overwhelmed by the number of requests they receive, so make sure you give them plenty of time to plan ahead.

3. AP classes look good on college applications and can help you save money

AP classes look impressive on your college application. They show that you are capable of completing advanced coursework and are ready for college-level material. If you are applying to highly-selective schools, AP classes give your application a competitive edge. Additionally, if you score well on your AP exams, you will likely receive college credit (check with your individual college for specifics). College credits are expensive, so this will help you save a lot of money in the long-run!

4. Take interesting classes

Take interesting electives. High school is a time to explore, so take this time to try something new! Take a pottery class. Or a robotics class. Chinese. Dance. Painting. You might discover something you really enjoy. You might also choose to take more classes with teachers you already know and love.

5. Learn to balance your social life and academics

While you should enjoy your senior year, spend time with friends, meet new people, and attend events, it’s also important not to slack off. “Senioritis” can feel very real. One of the most important tips for high school seniors is to avoid procrastination and maintain their academic standards. Senior year should be fun, but it’s also an important transition point. Whether you are attending college or entering the workforce, it’s important to feel motivated and prepared for your next step. Learning to balance your social life and academics is key to success, both in and outside of high school.

6. A college rejection letter isn’t the end of the world

Receiving a college acceptance letter is exciting and validating! You should celebrate each and every one. You worked hard and it’s nice to see that hard work recognized. A college rejection letter, however, shouldn’t feel like the end of the world. Colleges can be highly-selective, and not getting accepted into a program doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t qualified; it just means that there is a very large applicant pool. There is a lot of pressure put on you during your senior year and there are lots of tips for high school seniors. Mostly though, it’s important to remember that graduating high school and applying for college is hard work! So try to be gentle with yourself.

7. Talk to your guidance counselor, teachers, and coaches

Ask adults you trust and admire about advice for seniors in high school. What worked for them? Do they wish they had done anything differently? Are they happy with their career? Did they go to college? Senior year is an exciting time with endless possibilities. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Take time to reflect on what’s important to you and what you think you might want to do in the long run. It’s okay if you don’t know! Take a year off to work, travel, or volunteer, and keep in mind that many college students change their majors. You don’t need to know all the answers. It’s good and healthy to periodically change your mind. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask your guidance counselor, teachers, or coaches about advice for senior year of high school.

8. Tour colleges

If you have the opportunity to tour a college, take it! You can learn a lot about a college by researching it online, but sometimes seeing it in person can help you make the final call of where you can see yourself being the happiest and most comfortable during college. Tour as many colleges as you can, so you can make your final decision feeling as confident as possible. 

9. Sit in on college classes and job shadow

Not everyone knows what they want to do after college, and many students who think they do, end up changing their minds. Some good advice for seniors in high school is to consider sitting in on some college classes and seeking out job shadowing opportunities. There are countless career paths available, so take some time to research and explore your options. Attend a job fair. Take a career test. Talk to professionals and get a glimpse of what a typical day might look like for you in your prospective field.

10. Try new things

Step out of your comfort zone! Graduate high school without any regrets. Is there a club you’ve always wanted to join? Someone you always wanted to be friends with? A class you’ve been interested in taking? Take a moment to think about whether there is anything you’ve wanted to try, but haven’t had the time, or the nerve, for. High school is a great time to try new things, so challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone!

Key Takeaways

Work hard your senior year and have fun! Take time to reflect on possibilities for your future and seek out additional resources to make smart, post-high school decisions. Ask your peers and trusted adults in your life about your goals and anxieties. If you feel like you could benefit from professional, individualized attention, reach out to learn about our college counseling and guidance services.

Learn the best ways to tackle the four sections of the SAT test. It is important to get a high score on this test that way you can get into your dream college. We’re going to break down the best ways to effectively study for each section of the SAT. 

The Importance of Your SAT Score

Having the knowledge of what the SAT test is can quickly lead to stress and anxiety because of how important it is. It is basically your main ticket to getting into your dream college. It’s a hurdle that may be coming at you rather quickly, but one that you will be prepared for. There are many ways you can prepare for the sat test. Learn how to take the sat and use some of these best sat tips. 

The Importance of the ACT

Now to tackle the second most popular standardized test there is. Like the SAT test, the ACT also helps you identify if you are ready for college or not. It is all based on multiple-choice questions and comprehension of what you learned in high school. The higher the score, the more likely you are able to get into the college of your dreams. Most college admissions offices will look at your SAT or ACT score along with your college application. So make sure that you take the practice test to be well prepared for the real one. 

When You Still Have Time: The Best SAT Tips & Tricks for 2022

When you are learning how to pass the sat, you can easily get overwhelmed with information. There is a lot of hard work that goes into studying for a big test like this one. Optimize your time and find the best study prep materials that you can to get prepared. Let’s break down some of the best tips for SATs. 

Find a Study Partner

Studying in a group is one of the best ways that students can learn and lock in information as they are gearing up for the big day. And in no way is this considered cheating. You are simply helping other students strengthen their knowledge where it might be lacking and vice versa. 

Some students may find it hard to stay concentrated when studying alone. Having a group to rely on and hold you accountable to do your studying is one of the best methods to go off of. Having someone or a group of people study different types of questions could really help you in the long run. And when you get a certain amount of right answers you all can hang out and play games. 

Set a Goal

Having prep books and taking the PSAT are great ways to study for the new sat. You should have a study goal when going into test prep. It is not recommended that you go into the test blindly. Make sure you are setting goals throughout your testing. We suggest setting milestones while you are studying. Set a goal for the certain amount of questions you want to get correctly. Take as many SAT practice tests as possible.  

When it’s Around the Corner: 5 Last-minute SAT Tricks​

Some quick SAT tips that you should consider when before going into the big day. You’ve spent all this time gearing up for the big day and it is finally almost here! Now, you can never have too many tips for the sats, so read over some of the ones below and utilize them if you can. 

Material Overview

Lock all of your information is by reviewing math formulas and grammar rules. The writing section and math questions are going to try and trick you, so make sure you have all the information glued in your head. This is one of the best ways to bump up your score slightly and avoid making any frustrating mistakes. 

SAT Supplies

Make sure you have all of your supplies lined up the night before, that way you won’t be rushing for materials in the morning. You can find everything that you need by going to the college board website. Don’t forget your admission ticket! Preparing the night before is just another step in your direction towards success. 

Plan Your Morning

It’s also important to plan out what your morning is going to look like. Make sure all your supplies are put together, you have a good breakfast planned, you know how you’re getting to the testing center, and don’t forget to pack your photo id! It’s ideal for you to get to the testing center early, that way you can check in early and not stress about having to rush in. 

Get a Goodnight Sleep

At this point you’ve put in a lot of hard work. Now all you need to do is relax and get a goodnight of sleep. Resting a full 8 hours will ensure that you are well prepared for the big test-taking day. 

Eat a Good Breakfast

After your great night of rest, you should consume a fruitful breakfast before leaving for the test. It would be very distracting if your stomach was making noises and you were taking the test on an empty stomach. Make sure you are well prepared and have no distractions while you are taking your test. 

Test Day: 4 Proven Strategies for SAT

Now, how to do well on the SAT. Test day is here and you have studied your heart out. All that is left to do is get a high score and make it into your dream college. These are the last tips that we can suggest so you can avoid mistakes and perform at your personal best. We’re going to go over each section of the SAT and break down how to ace the sat, give some sat strategies, and tips for taking the sats.    

SAT Reading Test

Here are some of the best tips to get you through the reading section of the sat easily. Each tip should guide you through the section and break it down easily enough for you to pass successfully. 

Read the Pre-Passage Description

There is normally a synopsis of the passage and information about the author before every section. Most test takers skip this section, but it could be very relevant information when it comes to answering the questions at the end. 

Mark Up The Passage

Follow the passage actively and mark up the reading section as you go. Since there is a time limit on this section it is vital that you highlight any important information that you see. This makes it easier for you to quickly address important information as you are answering questions. 

Writing and Language Test

The next tips are important to remember while you are taking the writing section of the SAT. It’s important to make sure that you have enough time to make it through each section. So be thorough when completing all the questions. 

Memorize!

It’s important to memorize all the basic grammar rules during this section because they are testing you on how well you can convey the same proper English. If you are able to understand the basics of English grammar answering the questions will come with ease.  

Shorter is Better

Another thing to keep in mind is that the shorter and grammatically correct answer is better. This is the point where they try to trick you and entice you with long answers, but it’s best to stick with your gut. Don’t choose the answers with extra fluff and unneeded information. 

SAT Math Test

Lastly, let’s dive into the best ways to complete the math section with flying colors. These tips are to ensure that you avoid the wrong answers effectively. 

Understand the Test

If you understand how the test works then you know that the questions start out easily and gradually get harder. A lot of test takers overthink their answers and that leads to selecting the wrong answers more often. Don’t overthink the answers in the beginning because they are most liking as easy as it seems. They are not a trick. 

 

Memorize the Formulas

While there is a sheet of formulas provided to you during the math section of the test, not all of the formulas are provided to you. To effectively answer the math questions you need to have all of the formulas memorized. This is something to keep in mind when studying the math section of the SAT. 

Essay

The essay portion of the SAT is a bit challenging but not impossible to accomplish. To get a high score on this section of the SAT, you need to have stellar comprehesion skills. Your goal is to read a 600-800 word passage and write a critical essay on the same subject. 

Comprehension

Elevate your comprehension skills by actively highlighting the important information as you are going through the prompt. This is great for when you need key points to refer back to in the critical essay. 

Final Thoughts on SAT Tips and Tricks

When you are preparing for the SAT test it is important to remember everything you studied for and make sure you are well prepared. Break down each section and study using the same time limit that they do during the test. Plan efficiently and make sure you have all the correct information before your big test day.