Keep up your grades, re-take SAT/ACTs to improve scores, and keep the application process on track. By senior year, it’s too late to worry about making significant gains in your GPA or getting involved in a new extracurricular. Some schools will never even see your fall semester grades until after you’ve been accepted, and an activity you begin in September or October won’t make an impression at all.
Make sure you continue to take an appropriately rigorous curriculum and take the SAT/ACT in the Fall to improve your scores. Demonstrate to the admissions office that you are continuing to grow as a student and that this growth will continue into college. Colleges are looking at the arc of student work from 9th-12th grade, so you want to demonstrate that you are working hard each step of the way.
Seniors can best improve their chances of admission by committing to a solid course of study (challenging classes), maintaining and/or improving their grades, and preparing diligently for their standardized tests.
Seniors can enhance their chances of admission by applying early action or early decision. At mid-sized or small colleges introducing yourself to your state’s admission counselor at the institution is a very good idea. If you cannot meet them in person, send them an email introducing yourself. Ask if you can interview, be proactive. Show interest. Visit the college. If you cannot visit, make it known to the counselor that you have toured the college online. Of course, your grades and test scores are very important, but a few personal touches makes an impression.
By the time you have reached your senior year much of what you bring to the process is set. However there are some things you can do to put a final gloss on your application. Taking a strong academic load—whether it is a continuation of the path you have always followed or a reflection of the developing, more motivated student that you have become–is very important. Too, further improvement on the standardized tests can certainly be a help. Also, making good choices as to teachers who can give you strong recommendation is important. Perhaps the most important thing that still remains by the time you are senior is writing good essays. They are something that you can control and they can not only illuminate other aspects of the application as well as who you are, they can help put a more human face on the rest of application.
high school seniors may consider college visits and contact the college other than the admissions office for participating in sports and other activities. I also suggest the students to work on applications, especially the essay for admissions. if financial aid applications also requrei essay, students should accomplish the tasks during the summer.
Work hard to get strong grades as they will be provided by your high school to colleges both via the mid-year report (added to your application files) and via the required final transcript. Write your essays ahead of time so that you can revise them. Choose your recommenders carefully and ask politely for the recommendations way in advance of deadlines.
By senior year students would be wise to have all their ducks in a row. Application completed and submitted as soon as possible, interview scheduled and done, campus visit made, recommendations requested, FAFSA started are all critical aspects in the admission process. Plus there are thank you letters to write to your references and anyone you’ve met on campus. If you have timed everything right, you won’t be scrambling at the last minute to make a deadline. You’ve demonstrated your interest, you’ve written a memorable essay, your interview went well, your grades and scores are what they are. Take a breath and let the waiting begin.
Meet deadlines–from your counselor, the testing companies and your college choices. Follow procedures–all of them. If you need specific tests, take them. Don’t wait to write essays, and make sure the work produced is your work. When you have an opportunity to connect with a college, take it (visiting a rep at your school, going to a college fair or evening program in your area and/or visiting a college). Do your homework–concentrate on places that will be good matches for you. There are thousands of choices. The real trick is ferreting out good matches for you . . . and, by the way, nearly seven out of ten applications get a yes answer.
Many colleges ask students to write supplemental essays explaining their reasons for applying, and a well-researched, well-written supplemental essay will not only impress college admissions personnel, it will also help students determine if the college meets their needs. Seniors should read college websites and learn about majors, programs, social organizations, academic or graduation requirements, housing and more. The supplemental essays are a great opportunity for students to convey their enthusiasm for the college while also convincing colleges that they will contribute actively to the community. And that’s exactly what an admissions officer wants to know.
There is no magic trick to gaining admission. To increase your chances, do your homework… both in the classroom and out. Turn in assignments on time, keep working hard, and stave off a killer case of senioritis. We consider the senior year to be one of the most important. Do the research when seeking colleges to which you’ll apply. Find their application deadlines, and meet them. Find their freshman profiles, and see if you align statistically. And visit, to show that your interest is sincere and to be sure that we’re all that you hoped we’d be.
High school seniors can increase their chances of college admissions by demonstrating the diversity of their high school experiences within their applications. It is a misconception that colleges simply want to enroll straight ‘A’ students. Instead, colleges are actually interested in students who are themselves, interesting, and will contribute to the diversity and vivacity of the campus community. As a result, colleges actually seek students whom they believe will be active, involved, and successful on their campuses–academically, socially, civically, athletically, and politically. So while your transcript and SAT scores will certainly be considered, be sure to include other interesting things about you that will create a more holistic picture of why you’d be a fit for the institution.
As the school year winds down, high school seniors across the country are ramping up for their last summer at home, and, more importantly, their last summer to enjoy the convenience of living with mom and dad. No curfew! No one to report to! But, also, no one to fill the void and offer the guidance that parents have. Here are a few tips to learn and live by; well before the shock of the real world of college hits. These tips help with the adjustment of having to do the wash and pay the bills – and go to class. Helpful if you’re moving across the country or just across town.
Colleges keep track of students who have “demonstrated an interest” in their school and many use this as a “tipping factor” in admissions. So even if you are going to have friends show you around when you visit, it’s a good idea to check in at the admissions office. Call ahead to see if you can make an appointment to meet with an admissions officer. Ask admissions officers for their business cards so that you can contact them with questions as you are going through the process. Remember, they want to help you and make you fall in love with their school. They are as excited about the process as you are!
Here is my video response to the question.
It’s a little late in the game, but here are a few:
An important thing to remember about your senior year is that it does still matter. Matter students assume their gpa is already locked-in. While your actual gpa might not fluctuate greatly by the time you get to your senior year, the types of classes you select and how that reflects on your transcript to an admission representative does matter. If your senior year is filled with the minimum number of classes and it seems to be a lot of “filler” classes, no one will be very impressed.
Be proactive – make sure you are going to get the very best letters of recommendation, do well on your standardized tests, get great grades first semester, continue to be active and establish leadership roles, demonstrate interest and visit/interview.
Meeting with your regional admissions representative, clearly demonstrating your interest of a particular school that includes a campus visit, and participating in alumni interviews are all ways that increase your admissions chances.
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