Young Asian woman with big smile in line of students in grad caps and gowns

Video: How to Prepare for Your Senior Year of High School

In this video, student vlogger Zenavieve walks you through all the important things you need to know to be prepared for your senior year of high school.

Senior year of high school is a lot of different things: it’s college applications, prom, essays, classes, extracurricular activities, and so much more. It can be hard to prepare for so much at one time. Student vlogger Zenavieve has some advice on how to prepare to have a great senior year.

Start a senior bucket list (1:05)

Make a list of everything you want to do academically and socially this year and use it to set goals for yourself ahead of time so those aspects of your life don’t get lost in the rush of senior year. Whether you want to make the honor roll or be more social by going to parties, write your goals down. Visually seeing them every day will make you feel more motivated to accomplish them and more prepared.

Related: Stop! You Need to Make a Bucket List Before Senior Year Starts

Keep your grades up (1:49)

Just because you get accepted to college doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep your grades up! Finding your motivation can be hard, but if you don’t, your GPA could take a hit. You don’t want your college decisions to get rescinded because you have a case of senioritis. Keep up the pace and do your best right up until the end.

Take pictures (2:26)

Your senior year is going to be so memorable—but it’s also going to go by fast! Make sure to take as many pictures and videos as possible to preserve those memories for a long time. Document different aspects of the application process and when you get admission decisions. Many students like to post those online and spread the excitement of everyone getting into college.

Start the hard work now (3:07)

Determine where you want to end up at the end of academically and start the hard work now. If you want to be at the top of the class, that starts on day one! So make sure you’re putting in the effort now and not trying to rush your best academics during the last two weeks of school. Success is a long-term commitment, not a race. So determine what you’re committing to now and stick with it.

Related: 10 Things You Need to Do Before You Leave High School

This is just a small fraction of the advice that could help you get through your last year of high school, but it’s going to be your own unique experience. You just have to be open to every opportunity that comes your way this year, and we promise senior year will be one of your best yet.

By senior year, you likely have a college list put together! But if you need to add a few more, you can use our College Search tool to explore.

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