How should rising seniors prepare for the start of the school year?

With school starting in just a few weeks for many students, now is the perfect time for the Class of 2026 to take a few steps to start senior year strong. 

First: Set an appointment with your guidance counselor. You want to go over your schedule to make sure that it contains:

• a full schedule of classes,

• a full academic load that includes English, math, science, social studies or history, and a foreign language (if possible)

• the hardest classes for you, where you can be successful and challenged

Regardless of when you apply to college, admissions offices will request classes scheduled for senior year and grades. And, if there’s an AP option available, you may wonder if getting a lower grade in that class will be better than getting an A in the honors class. It’s complicated. For most colleges, it doesn’t really matter as long as you maintain your progression - honors to honors or AP to AP. A drop from honors or AP may cause them to question why? If you're aiming for highly selective colleges (those with admit rates below 25%), it's important to show that you can thrive in the most rigorous courses available—ideally earning an A in AP-level coursework. 

Second: Check in with your recommendation letter writers, if you sent their requests in junior year. If you haven't yet requested recommendation letters, do so as soon as school starts—providing teachers with any forms or information they request.

Third: Block out time each week (or even daily) to work on your college applications. No one is done with everything before the school year starts, so you won’t be alone. Then when you are done, use the time to start applying for scholarships.

Last: If you toured colleges over the summer, consider revisiting a few during the school year to get a feel for campus life when classes are in session.

Senior year is full of milestones—don't let the stress of college planning overshadow the fun. I can help you build a realistic, flexible schedule that keeps you on track and leaves room to enjoy the ride. Contact me to get started.