Senior Year To Do List

This is it! This year is all about finishing high school strong, celebrating your high school years and completing your plan for your next step! This Senior Year to do list will help keep you on track.

YAY!

students wearing black and white graduation hats during a graduation ceremony

Tips for surviving and thriving in your senior year

  1. Read your email and check your mailbox multiple times per week
  2. Take it one step at a time – Senior year can be a bit overwhelming, try to stay in the moment and get through one thing at a time
  3. Be patient with others – friends, family and especially parents! Senior year can be exciting and stressful for others in your life. Be extra kind and patient
  4. Be kind to yourself – identify activities that you enjoy and help you relax and schedule time for them at least a couple times each week. The more busy you are, the more important it is!

Your exact steps in your senior year will vary a bit based on what your pathway is after high school.

Finish High School Strong

  • Continue to take challenging and interesting courses in your senior year – YES these grades count! Continuing to challenge yourself in your senior year also matters to colleges and other programs
  • Stay on top of graduation requirements – make sure you are doing well in classes you need to graduate and get help from your teachers or counselors if you fall off track. Don’t lose track of other things you need to graduate such as a High School and Beyond Plan (in Washington state) or community service hours if your high school requires them
  • Giving teachers and counselors as much time as possible to write letters of recommendation for you if you need them for the colleges or scholarships you are applying to! 

Senior Year to do list – Applying to four year college

Applying to four year colleges is a lot of work but it’s totally worth it and if you take it one step at a time it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Several of these things can be started in the summer before your senior year, which I highly recommend. It will make your senior year so much less stressful. You’ve got this! Some key milestones are:

  • Finalize your list of colleges you will apply to (summer before senior year)
  • Get organized – make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements for the different colleges you will apply to (summer before senior year)
  • Make a list of scholarships to apply to and make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements (summer before senior year)
  • Draft primary personal statement (summer before senior year)
  • Request letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors as early as possible in the fall if you need them
  • Request your high school transcript be sent to the colleges you will apply to, most four year colleges require this (a month before the application deadline)
  • Ask you school counselor for fee waivers for college applications and the SAT or ACT if you are a low income student
  • Apply for scholarships (ongoing throughout the year based on deadlines of the scholarships you will apply to)
  • Retake the SAT or ACT in the fall (ONLY if you need a higher score and the colleges you are applying to require it), make sure your official scores are sent to all the colleges that require them
  • Complete the FAFSA or WASFA to apply for financial aid (October)
  • Complete your college applications, including any additional essays that may be required (deadlines are between mid November and late January)
  • Request a mid year report (first semester grades) for colleges that require them (generally private schools only, late January/early February)
  • You should receive all admissions decisions by the end of March or very beginning of April
  • Make sure you have received a financial aid award letter (a document which tells you what financial assistance you are being offered to attend that school) from each college that has accepted you. If you haven’t received this from any college by early April contact them immediately to find out if they are missing any information and get it to them immediately
  • Carefully review financial aid award letters and contact colleges with any questions.
  • Make your decision and communicate it to colleges by May 1st!
  • Register for orientation
  • Make a plan to transition to college – where you will live, how you will get around, what supplies you need
  • Request your final high school transcript

Senior Year to do list – Applying to two year college

Applying to two year colleges is a bit less work than applying to a four year college but there are still quiet a few critical steps. Many students wait until the last minute but this is a mistake, especially if you’re looking to get money to pay for it. Keep on top of the process throughout the year and you’ll have a much less stressful senior year. You’ve got this! Some key milestones are:

  • Finalize which two year college you plan to attend, or make a short list if you’re still deciding which is the best fit (summer before senior year)
  • Get organized – make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements. This is just as important for two year colleges! (summer before senior year)
  • Make a list of scholarships to apply to and make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements (summer before senior year)
  • Draft personal statement (summer before senior year – you will not need this to apply to a two year college, but you may need it for some scholarships you apply to)
  • Request letters of recommendation from teachers (you will not need this for two year colleges but you may need it for some scholarships you apply to- do this as early as you can during the school year)
  • Complete the FAFSA or WASFA to apply for financial aid (October)
  • Apply for scholarships (ongoing throughout the year based on deadlines of the scholarships you will apply to)
  • Send your SAT or ACT scores – these are not required by two year colleges, but if you have them you can use these scores instead of needing to take a math or english placement test
  • Complete your two year college application (no later than March)
  • Carefully review financial aid award letters and contact colleges with any questions (you will receive this during the summer, later than four year college)
  • Find out if a placement test is required and schedule a time to take it (you may be able to use your transcript, SAT or ACT scores or state testing scores instead)
  • Register for orientation
  • Make a plan to transition to college – where you will live, how you will get around, what supplies you need

Senior Year to do list – Applying to trade school, technical school or apprenticeship programs

Applying to trade or technical school or apprenticeship programs takes some research. It’s critical to understand the options in the type of work you want to do. Unlike two and four year college, starting a trade program or apprenticeship is a commitment to a certain type of job right away. Doing this research will make you more confident and less stressed during your senior year. You got this! Some key milestones are:

  • Finalize which two year program you plan to attend, or make a short list if you’re still deciding which is the best fit. Make sure to understand the requirements as the requirements and competitiveness for these programs varies widely (summer before senior year)
  • Get organized – make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements. (summer before senior year)
  • Make a list of scholarships to apply to and make a system to keep track of all deadlines and requirements (summer before senior year)
  • Complete the FAFSA or WASFA to apply for financial aid (October)
  • Send anything that the program requires, such as transcripts or test scores (these vary widely among programs)
  • Understand any physical or other non academic requirements of the program you are applying to (for example – drug test, physical, a specific level of physical skill such as being able to lift 50 pounds)
  • Complete your application (no later than March, though deadlines may be sooner and vary widely)
  • Carefully review financial aid award letters (trade and technical school) or job offers (apprenticeships). Understand any additional financial requirements such as providing your own tools or uniforms.
  • Make a plan to transition – where you will live, how you will get around, what supplies you need

By Jennie Flaming