Indoor track is starting soon and I am very excited. I have had plenty of time to adjust to school and my workload and I am excited to compete again. Now I will really have to stay on top of my work and get ahead when I can because I will be staying after school every day for track. I think doing track keeps me more organized, because I know I have to do assignments in advance and so I tend to be more on top of my work. I will really need to manage my time even more, if that is possible!

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!

Last week I begin track conditioning. As a team, we have never started practicing this early, but I guess it makes sense—so we can all be in the best shape possible when the season starts in February. I haven’t run since summer, so the first couple of days will probably hurt really bad. Even though the weather is cooling down, I still have to make sure that I drink enough water so I don’t cramp up; nothing is worse than cramping up in the cold!

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 am applying early to the majority of the schools I want to attend in hopes that I get in before the crowd. This whole application thing really is stressful, so my hope is to get accepted early and relax. I can then watch the rest of my fellow classmates stress out over the normal deadlines. I can’t wait until I have that relief!

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.

I will be taking the ACT for the second time in hopes of increasing my overall score and having something better to submit to colleges. You only get one first impression, so I have to make sure that I look good the first time. I continue to take the tough classes at my school. In preparation for the test, I have been taking the practice test on the ACT website to help me become familiar with the test format and with the flow of answering questions, because I am usually a slow test taker.

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.