Senior Year Checklist
Transitioning to life after high school (yes, it does exist) can be a rocky process. Find time between studying and partying during your senior year to do the following things, and you'll be on your way to smoothly adjusting to the college world before you even turn your tassel.
Buy a suit.
You're likely to wear one several times during your senior year, whether attending your graduation or going on college interviews. Although a suit can be pricey, think of it as an investment in your future.
Create a portfolio.
Many students forget about creating a portfolio to showcase their work, but a collection of notable work can give you an advantage when it comes to standing out among other college applicants. Standard for fine arts, journalism, and visual communication majors, portfolios featuring term papers, research projects, or work from summer internships can be helpful for other majors as well. Before graduating, set up an appointment with a favorite professor or advisor to get some input.
Go to career fairs.
Most universities host at least one career fair per year or semester, and many hold industry-specific fairs as well. But don't fill your planner just yet. Hewitt suggests only going to a career fair if you're interested in the employers attending. “Students will apply for jobs they are only marginally interested in, then the interview doesn't go well because they weren't into it, and they get discouraged by the rejection,” Hewitt says. “Only interview if you're passionate about the position.”
Clean up your online presence.
Start this in September—it will take a whole year to track down, un-tag, and delete information you don't want potential employers seeing on the web, like your Xanga from ninth grade or photos from that Carnaval at Barranquilla senior year.
Have fun!
A cliché ending, we know, but the typical high school lifestyle only lasts four . Take advantage of it now by enjoying your local high school spots, watching TV, and hanging out with your friends —whatever it is that you might not get to experience as often after entering “the college world.”
Buy a suit.
You're likely to wear one several times during your senior year, whether attending your graduation or going on college interviews. Although a suit can be pricey, think of it as an investment in your future.
Create a portfolio.
Many students forget about creating a portfolio to showcase their work, but a collection of notable work can give you an advantage when it comes to standing out among other college applicants. Standard for fine arts, journalism, and visual communication majors, portfolios featuring term papers, research projects, or work from summer internships can be helpful for other majors as well. Before graduating, set up an appointment with a favorite professor or advisor to get some input.
Go to career fairs.
Most universities host at least one career fair per year or semester, and many hold industry-specific fairs as well. But don't fill your planner just yet. Hewitt suggests only going to a career fair if you're interested in the employers attending. “Students will apply for jobs they are only marginally interested in, then the interview doesn't go well because they weren't into it, and they get discouraged by the rejection,” Hewitt says. “Only interview if you're passionate about the position.”
Clean up your online presence.
Start this in September—it will take a whole year to track down, un-tag, and delete information you don't want potential employers seeing on the web, like your Xanga from ninth grade or photos from that Carnaval at Barranquilla senior year.
Have fun!
A cliché ending, we know, but the typical high school lifestyle only lasts four . Take advantage of it now by enjoying your local high school spots, watching TV, and hanging out with your friends —whatever it is that you might not get to experience as often after entering “the college world.”
