This weekend I am going on an official college visit for track. I am so excited. Official visits are a way for coaches to meet with potential athletes, while also allowing the athletes an opportunity to see the school, meet the coaches and other athletes, and get a feel for college life. I cannot wait to go on the visit because it is such a great way to really see if this college is a good fit for me. However, I am also very nervous because this is huge step in choosing a college and I want to make a good impression on the coach. Wish me luck!

I have met with my school counselor for the eighth time this year. He is so helpful and keeps me on track. I know I have talked a lot about seeing counselors, but they are such a great resource. My counselor can answer almost all of the questions I ask him, and if he does not know an answer, he will always get back to me immediately with the correct answer. Applying for colleges is a hard, long process that is totally foreign to seniors. We have never had to go through this process before and counselors know it. They are there to help with any questions or problems we are having, so don’t be afraid to talk to them!

I finally have my Common Application completed. I finished all of my essays and I am ready to apply. I recommend that all seniors go to the online site to get started on their applications. Most applications for regular decision are not due until the end of December, so there is still time. Most colleges accept the Common App, and the website is very helpful and easy to use. You can search colleges and save the updates you have made on the application, so you do not have to do it all in one sitting. The site has been a savior for me.

For the past few weeks I have been meeting with my English teacher to go over my college essays. The essay is important because the college will get to see a side of you that cannot be conveyed through a resume. My teacher has been so helpful. He really knows what colleges are looking for and has offered me a lot of guidance on my topics and structure. I would highly recommend meeting with your English teacher to go over college essays.

I know I have a laundry list—which goes on forever—of things that I need to do for school and college, but it is important to have some fun, while keeping a balance between work and friends. Senior year should not be all about stressful college hunting. I know homecoming is coming up soon and it’s a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends. Plus, once we get into college, a lot of the pressure will be gone since college applications will be a thing of the past. We’ll have more downtime!

Whoever said senior year was easy is wrong. I have so much going on right now. First and foremost, October and December are my last chances to score well on the ACT, so continuing to prepare is very important. I am going on college visits, I’m working on the common application, I’m doing track workouts, and on top of all of that I have all of my schoolwork. I have to remember that my senior year grades are still important and that colleges usually ask to see your first-semester grades. I am really trying to focus on my schoolwork and keep up my grades even though I have lots of other things going on.

I just got back from another college visit and I had a great time. Visiting colleges is really important because once you choose a college, you’ll be living there for the next four years. I make sure I talk to some students who go to the school and see how they like it and I try to get the inside scoop. It’s nice to see a dorm room, so you have an idea of the limited space you have to fit all of your stuff. Going on visits is really important and helpful. I was able to get a real feel for what college life is like.

Going to college can be very expensive. Having to pay for books, supplies, food, room and board, and making actual tuition payments can be overwhelming. You should apply for as many academic scholarships as you can. Those could be through tests, essays, or speeches. Don’t be afraid to apply for scholarships; you never know what you could win. You can talk to your guidance counselor to find out if there are any local scholarships or if your school offers any special contests for scholarships. Another option to consider for financial help is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). There are financial aid papers that you can start filling out online at http://www.fafsaonline.com/.

The other day I had a meeting with both my guidance counselor and my mother. It was a great meeting. We talked about my plans for the future and what I need to do for my college applications. Some of the main subjects we talked about were letters of recommendation from my teachers, the common application and the supplements, and the colleges in which I am interested. After talking to my guidance counselor, I felt a lot better about where I stand in the process of applying to colleges. I know my guidance counselor will be seeing a lot of me this year!

I have to be really organized this year because I have so much going on. First of all, I have all of my schoolwork, projects, and thesis papers to keep track of. On top of that, I have my college applications to worry about. Filling out applications is a long process. The hardest part is getting all of my essay and supplemental essay questions done. Early action and early decision due dates are just around the corner, so I really need to finish my applications and set aside time to work on them. Keeping on top of my schoolwork and my college applications is very important.