The Summer Before Senior Year: How to Make it Count

Junior year may have just ended, but it’s never too early to begin thinking about senior year and beyond. While this may be the last thing students want to hear, the truth is that the summer before senior year can be a very productive time if managed correctly. While students may have good vibes about “safety schools” and positive feelings about their GPAs test scores, they need to remember that nothing is set in stone just yet, and this time can be used to ensure that all is in place for a smooth, successful senior year. Here are a few actions you can take to make this summer count:

Get your college essays done: Summer before senior year is an ideal time to get your college essays out of the way. While you’re not in school, it’s much easier to find the time to sit down and ruminate on what you’d like to say in your essay. It’s a great time to begin drafting, revising, and getting feedback. If you are unsure of how to approach the process, reach out to older friends and siblings who have been through it, ask to read their essays, and see what workshops/tutoring opportunities are available that focus on college essays and supplements. It will be much more difficult to get this done once the school year starts up again, and with many students aiming for a January 1^st deadline, don’t forget how hectic the holiday season can be, and how difficult it will be to focus on anything, let alone the all-important admissions essay. Long story short, summer is the time to tackle this vital part of the college application process.

Bone up on basics: Whether it’s grammar, math, reading, or chemistry, summer is a perfect time to solidify your knowledge base. Not only will it help you ensure that your grades don’t slip during your senior year (something you never want a college to see,) it’s also a great primer for the college courses you’ll be taking. All schools will require you to take some “core” classes like composition or chemistry, so being prepared to excel in these courses will pave the way for you to focus on the classes in your area of study (i.e. the classes you want to take.) Why not use your post-junior year summer to make sure you are in the best possible position to succeed moving forward?

Visit colleges: Contrary to popular belief, summer is actually a prime time to visit college campuses. Not only is it easier to get personalized attention from admissions folks, it’s also a way to avoid the hordes of students and their families who waited until the last minute to check out a college. See what the school looks like in the gorgeous summer months, take your time experiencing the campus, talk to the admissions people, and be assured that even though it’s summer, there will be some students around and they will be happy to extol the virtues of their school.

Get tutored: Many tutoring centers offer discounts, special packages, and workshops in the summer, so this can be an excellent time to take advantage and get a jump on test prep, college essays, basic skills, and more. If you are a rising senior who will be taking the SAT or ACT again in the fall, chances are you can find a summer test prep group. It’s a good time to enroll in one because you are not in school, so you can focus your attention on what will most likely be your last chance at standardized testing before you have to put the scores on your college application.

Bolster your college app: Work, summer courses, and community service are all activities that can be done during the summer. Of course, there are the personal benefits to be reaped from staying busy during this season, but also any and all of these activities will only strengthen your college application. The more you can put on it, the more you will appear a well-rounded asset to the college. And this last summer of high school is a good time to build up your experience and polish your credentials.

It’s easy to get caught up in the “lazy, hazy days of summer,” but remember that even though you’ve survived the always-stressful junior year, you don’t want to rest on your laurels. You can make the most of the summer before senior year and be sure that you are on track for a successful end to your high school career and beginning of your college experience.

Written by Phil Lane