Senior Year

The senior year is where the student gets to deliver all that they have discovered, developed and discerned over the past three years. It is important to have a good sense of what your options are and where you can best achieve your goals. The time, effort and quality of your delivery will have a significant impact on your successes. Enjoy and trust in God to guide you to your next step in your journey.

College Applications
The fall of your senior year is the time to finalize the list of colleges and universities that seem best suited for your needs. You'll want to spend time with your family, friends, and school counselor in paring down (or developing) your list of the best schools for you in terms of the criteria you deem most important.  If you did not work on your college application over the summer, DO NOT WORRY! The School Counselors will take you through the application process every Tuesday during 10:10 in the fall of senior year.  The goal is that all students have applications complete by the November 1st deadline!

Avoid Senioritis and the Senior Slump. There's a common misconception that once you've made it to your senior year, and especially once you've been accepted by colleges, that senior grades don't matter. But colleges do request and review senior grades, especially from the first half of the school year. If you let your grades slip anytime during the year, colleges have the right to ask you to document and explain why your current grades have dropped below previous years.

Continue to take pride in your grades and continue to attempt your best. Some studies report that high school seniors who lost interest in high school because of a "senior slump" also had problems in college because they had lost interest and devalued the importance of education. And you don't ever want to face the worst-case scenario: not graduating high school because you are short one credit because you failed some elective course.

Keep Challenging Yourself
While senior year might seem the right time to load up on those electives you've been dying to take instead of advanced or honors classes, you might want to hold off on taking too many easy electives. Many colleges recommend that your senior year should be designed to best prepare you for your first year in college, and some of the more selective schools may downgrade your application if you ease up on the challenging courses.

Studies also show that students who continue to take advanced courses in the sciences, math, foreign languages, or English during their senior year are better prepared and perform better in related college courses. Another benefit is that you may be able to earn college credits for some of the courses you take.

Stay Involved
If you've been involved in various social clubs, actively volunteered with local agencies, or have been involved in the community in other ways, don't stop now just because it's your senior year or because you no longer need to do it to impress the colleges and universities. Make a lifelong commitment to give back to your community. You'll be helping others, making an impact on people's lives, and you'll feel better for it. And volunteering also helps you gain important career skills -- and can possibly even help you in discovering a college major or career path.

Strive for Balance
The key for you is to avoid burnout. You have your high school work, college planning, social activities, family obligations, and outside activities (such as jobs, volunteering, etc.) -- all demanding your time. Try and keep your life balanced -- and be sure to schedule time just for yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. And remember that while you don't want to have a senior slump, it's equally important not to crash and burn.While you don't want to have a senior slump, it's equally important not to crash and burn.

Set Life and Career Goals
As you reach the precipice of your primary education and are about to make that leap into the journey of the rest of your life, now is a great time to find a quiet spot and reflect on your future career and life goals. Don't worry about specifics and don't let yourself get bogged down in the details; instead, focus on issues such as what you are searching for out of work and a career, what success means to you, what your values are in life.

Gratitude
Being thankful for every gift and lesson learned.
“Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his mercy endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1)

Humility and Understanding
Seeking first to understand.
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13)

Servant Leadership
Leading and serving like Jesus.
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)