New Year, New School: New Year’s Goals for High School Seniors

From All Of Us Here At WeAdmit, Happy New Year!

When a new year begins, everyone can sense the possibilities for a fresh start and new, exciting goals. However, for high school seniors, all this excitement can make it difficult to jump back into school and maintain the good habits they need to carry them all the way to graduation.

Making college goals in the midst of such an exciting season can be off putting, and maybe even a little nerve-wracking. Luckily, there are some fool-proof things you can do right now that will help you keep up your momentum and stay focused during your senior year of high school.

So, come ring in 2020 with us by planning for college the right way!

What You’ll Find In This Article:

• Welcome to the New Year!
• 5 Goals to Strive for in the New Year

Welcome To The New Year!

If you’re a high school senior, welcome to 2020: the year when you’ll begin your college journey. Right now, it may seem like your first day of college is far away, but in reality, it will be here sooner than you realize.

While you’re enjoying the end of your winter break, it would be wise to start making some college goals to help you prepare for all the practical components involved with your transition to college in the fall. Preparing now could save you loads of time later this semester when you’ll be focused on exciting end-of-year events like finals, prom and graduation.

Many students feel a “New Year slump” when they head back to school in January. You just had three or four weeks off where you were free to sleep in, take a break from homework, and spend time with family. This year however, it’s vitally important that you stay focused after this break, and start the last semester of your senior year strong. Besides, you don’t want your last semester in high school to be filled with cram sessions and all-nighters; while you’ll need to maintain your grades, you’ll also want to make lasting memories with your friends and classmates!

The renewed focus you’ll find through these college goals isn’t only beneficial for you; it’s also beneficial for your relationship with prospective colleges. Don’t think that they’ve stopped paying attention to your college applications in the New Year; college admission officers usually ask for mid-year reports from your counselor and check in often regarding your class performance.

5 Goals To Strive For In The New Year

After all the excitement of the holidays and the New Year, it can be easy to lose momentum and motivation in your studies. While the urge to take it easy for the rest of the school year is tempting, and many high school graduates swear that “Senioritis” is a very real diagnosis, use these attainable goals to help you finish on a good note.

So, take a moment to jot down these college goals on your phone, in a notebook, or on your laptop so you can reference them often as you finish up your senior year of highschool!

KEEP YOUR GRADES UP

If you’ve already submitted your college applications, don’t assume that all the hard work is done. In fact, for a high school senior, it’s more important than ever that you maintain a steady GPA.

Many colleges require a mid-year school report, usually in mid-February, so they can check in on your performance during your last semester. If Senioritis gets the best of you and you begin slacking in your classes, those colleges will see this dip in momentum reflected in your mid-year report, and may think twice about admitting you.

Make it your goal to continue working hard in classes, turning in assignments before deadlines, and setting aside ample time to study for quizzes and tests. If you didn’t work very hard in your fall semester, plan to turn it up a notch this spring! You never know how much an improvement in grades during your senior year could improve your college applications. By maintaining your grades during your senior year, colleges will see a consistent student who has good study habits and knows how to prioritize.

These good habits aren’t just for college admission officers, either; they’re setting you up for a strong start in college, too!

PLAN YOUR FINANCES

During their last semester of high school, many high school seniors avoid thinking about college finances for many reasons.

For one thing, high tuition can trigger anxiety that can be difficult to deal with during this time of the school year. If this is the case for you, ask yourself, “Would I rather deal with this now, or at a more busy time like graduation?”

While planning college finances early can make you feel uneasy, it’s better to make a reliable financial plan now, rather than later. The beginning of your last semester would be a good time to sit down with your parents or your counselor and take a look at your current financial situation. By planning for college finances early, you’ll give yourself an entire semester to either save money or apply for scholarships and financial aid, all with plenty of time before your first day of college.

Additionally, every state has their own financial aid deadlines, so make sure you complete your research early. By laying out all of your financial options, you can construct a reliable financial plan that will ease your anxiety and make paying for your college tuition a more attainable goal.

CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL

If you submitted your college applications under an Early Decision or Early Action deadline, you should receive a decision letter by mid to late December. If you submitted your applications under the regular time frame, decision letters are usually mailed out in mid to late March.

Sooner or later, you’ll have to prepare to choose your school. By adding this goal to your New Year’s goals list, you can be prepared when it’s time to make your final decision regarding where you’ll go to college.

Of course, this decision isn’t easy and can sometimes feel impossible, especially if you get accepted to several of your top-choice schools. Hopefully you followed WeAdmit’s advice and applied to about 7-10 schools, each separated by the categories reach, safety, and target.

While you’re waiting for your decision letters, stay up to date on your colleges. Continue your own research of any new programs they may have to offer in the coming year, or any programs that may have lost their funding. By paying attention to what’s happening at the schools you applied for, you’ll have a better idea of where you want to go by the time your decision letters arrive. After all, it’s important that you’re prepared to handle whatever admissions decision your colleges send.

To better handle the stress inherent in these kinds of decisions, simply review the pros and cons lists you made for each college. Remind yourself why you applied to each one in the first place, and consider any financial aid options they may have offered you.

Also, don’t forget to celebrate! Getting accepted into college is a huge deal; don’t let the weight of the decision distract you from recognizing this major accomplishment.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

Once you make your final decision about where you’ll continue your education after high school, you’ll need to start preparing for all the practical elements of going to college. This part of your college goals is fun and exciting because you’ll get to see your dream of going to college becoming a reality.

Depending on where your college is located, you may have to organize a full-scale move. Maybe you’ll be moving across the country to go to school; in this case, some practical things you’ll need to plan for could be whether you’re driving or flying, how you plan on bringing all your belongings, and deciding to live on or off campus. If you’re living off campus, this process will include apartment or house-hunting, which can be time-consuming, so plan ahead!

You’ll also need to find out when class registration opens for the fall, the books that will be required for these classes, and how you plan on paying for them. This information is usually made available for incoming freshmen sometime in April or May before their first fall semester.

Lastly, you’ll need to set aside some time to slow down and mentally prepare for this transition. If you get homesick easily, it might be beneficial to seek help from your friends or parents to get used to the idea of living away from home. The last thing you want is to be hit with a wave of homesickness or culture shock during your first week of classes. While this is common for freshmen, you can lessen the impact of being away from home by taking some time during your senior year to mentally prepare for this new chapter in your life.

ENJOY HIGH SCHOOL!

You never get to do high school again after you graduate! This is bittersweet, but true. High school could be the place where you have many positive memories, experienced a lot of growth, and met your closest friends.

Don’t let your New Year’s goals and preparation for college take you away from enjoying your last semester in high school. Hang out with your friends, go to school events, stay in your clubs; anything you can do to stay as connected as possible will help you remember what’s really important. After all, during college you may find moments where you miss high school, and you can look back on your last semester with positive memories!

Kicking Off 2020 The Right Way!

Maintaining good study habits during your last semester of high school is possible; all you need are the right college goals and a bit of focus and determination.

By keeping your grades up and continuing to work hard in classes, you’ll be avoiding a possible dip in grades on your mid-year school report, which your prospective colleges will see. This momentum will directly affect the way you start college, too. Of course, set aside the time to plan out your college finances and prepare to receive your decision letters as well. While you’re waiting, review your pros and cons lists and any financial aid the college may have offered you.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy high school!

Stay active in your school community, and don’t let all the planning and preparation take you away from this very special time in your life.

Plus, if planning for college makes you anxious, don’t worry! WeAdmit has numerous resources to help high school seniors like yourself plan for the practical parts of college, from advice on how to keep your grades up during your senior year to the vast amount of financial aid options available for students. You can find a reliable community in our professional counselors, who can help you achieve that delicate balance between being as prepared as possible for college and enjoying high school at the same time.

Getting accepted into college is a huge accomplishment, and so is graduating high school. So, as we ring in the New Year, let’s celebrate both of these accomplishments with pride!

Through A Few Simple Goals, You Can Kick Off This Exciting New Year The Right Way!