Graduation season is approaching quickly, and seniors reflect on their years in high school both academically and socially. As their chapter at Mater Dei closes, many seniors are taking the opportunity to offer their own advice to the juniors that are beginning to take their tests and think about colleges. Many juniors feel unready and unprepared to follow in the footsteps of the senior class before them. With advice ranging from time management skills, the suggested rigor of the next year, or heartfelt encouragement to savor every moment of their last year in high school, the class of 2024 has prepared their best advice to pass down to the next graduating class.  

Junior year is usually a busy year filled with a full schedule of things to get done, one of them being SAT preparation. There are lots of things you can do to receive the highest score possible, but seniors have some special recommendations. 

Senior Hailey Mouat took the SAT at the beginning of her senior year, and found a great tool to help her maximize her scores on the exam. She used Khan Academy and feels that it helped prepare her for the SAT. She utilized a feature which creates practice tests and helps students get the feel for what an actual SAT test will look like. 

“The tests create personalized practice questions based on what you miss,” Mouat said. “It definitely helped me a lot and I’d highly recommend it to anyone planning on taking the SAT.”

Many seniors suggested taking multiple PSAT and PACT tests, focusing on practicing your weaknesses and reviewing your strengths in the months leading up to your test. Whether it be getting a tutor or reviewing with a company, a popular piece of advice was to reach out for help in areas you need it most. 

Senior Maddox Yarnell has a recommendation for students before they even begin studying for the SAT. He believes that even the planning can have an impact on your SAT experience. 

“Sign up early and make sure you book a seat close to you,” Yarnell said. “You can run into the risk of having to drive hours to take [the test].”

By planning ahead, students can assure that they will be able to take the SAT and have time to retake it if need be. Having to travel long distances to complete the test can cause extra stress, anxiety, and less time to get much needed sleep. It is better to be prepared, and make the day as easy as possible.

Senior year is a big year filled with new classes, challenges, and experiences that can shape the rest of your life. It can be hard to navigate with the thoughts of college applications and looming big decisions. Seniors can help younger grade level students understand what they wish they knew before starting their final year. 

Senior Audrey Nguyen wishes she knew more about the effects of the classes she chose. Many students anticipate that senior year classes will be very simple and carry less importance, but Nguyen confirms that is not the case. You still have to have drive and motivation to work hard your senior year, and you cannot fall behind. 

“I wish I knew that the classes I had chosen to take and the grades I earned in those classes still impacted my college decisions,” Nguyen said. 

Nguyen urges juniors to still do their best during their senior year, and not to give up because senior year is still important to many colleges. Colleges still prefer prospective students to take challenging classes, and earn good grades to reflect the type of student you are now and will be in the future. 

“Many people say that senior year doesn’t matter, or colleges don’t care about your senior year grades, but depending on where you apply, colleges take into account the level and rigor of your classes,” Nguyen said. “Colleges may also revoke an acceptance at any time for reasons such as poor grades or disciplinary infractions.”

Mouat is in agreement with Nguyen, advising juniors to make their grades their priority even when the end is near. It can be easy to give up and want to check out early, but keeping school a priority will benefit students when being considered by colleges. 

“It’s not an easy, laid-back year,” Mouat said. “Don’t lose the momentum you’ve been building these past three years and continue to maintain a good work ethic.”

Mouat emphasizes that grades still matter, and you still have to work hard. Homework and tests don’t stop  because graduation is near, and especially not when you’ve been accepted into a college. 

Arguably one of the biggest stressors for students as their high school career comes to an end is college. College application season can be a troubling time for many filled with constant essays, scholarship applications, and uncertainty as to what the next steps are. As the class of 2024 seniors have already submitted applications and even received some acceptances, they can mentor stressed out students with some words of encouragement. 

Life doesn’t stop just because you have to work on college applications. It can be hard balancing tons of school work and a good number of extracurricular activities while completing numerous applications. You have to manage it all at once which can be a challenge for many already preoccupied students. Nguyen discovered a technique that worked for her and helped her get through the busy season.

“Balancing school work and college applications is a difficult task,” Nguyen said. “I was able to manage my stress and time by giving myself personal deadlines to complete various parts of my college applications so that I did not end up procrastinating too much.” 

Nguyen believes that managing your time is of utmost importance. While setting deadlines to keep her on task, she also made sure to give herself enough extra time to perfect her essays. She recommends beginning your college applications as early as possible, so you have time to make the highest quality application. Mouat also took a similar route by prioritizing setting aside time to make sure she could put the most effort into her application. 

“I planned out my essays ahead of time and tried to get rough drafts done at least a couple weeks before the deadlines,” Mouat said. “That way I could revise and edit my essays before they were due.” 

Mouat also understands the mental toll that application season can bring, and she reassures stressed juniors or even seniors that everything will be okay. As long as you have done your best and applied to enough schools, it will turn out alright. 

“Remember that you will end up where you are supposed to be,” Mouat said. “Apply to safety schools, but also apply to schools you might not think you can get into because you may be surprised.” 

Senior James Krantz is one student with a full and busy schedule as he plays tennis at an extremely competitive level. He shares his trials during junior year battling stress and finding his balance between academics and extracurriculars. He believes that the essay you submit in your application makes a significant effect in your acceptance, stressing the importance of writing something that expresses who you are and not what you think the schools want to see. 

“Deciding on your college is a big decision, but you will get a sense of where the right place for you is, and no matter where you end up, you will gain something very unique from each experience,” Krantz said. “Write from the heart in your essays and do the best you can in your schoolwork and extracurriculars. If you get into that dream school, great, if not it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Of course, senior year does not just revolve around college applications. There are other things that make senior year incredibly memorable and emotional. You have little time left with your classmates, and the Mater Dei community in general. Yarnell recognizes a few of these “lasts”, and reminds students to not take their time for granted.

“Enjoy the little stuff,” Yarnell said. “Like eating with your friends in the LeVecke, walking through the Grotto at Christmas, and watching MDTV before class. It will all be over before you know it.”

Krantz also advises students to make the most of the final months of highschool. Even with stressful times, it’s important to also prioritize enjoying your time with your classmates and make the most of it before it’s all over. 

“Junior year is stressful, you’ve made it through the hardest part of high school,” Krantz said. “Enjoy your summer and enjoy your senior year, it’s your last year of high school so make the most of it!”

Navigating SATs, ACTs, college applications, classes, and a multitude of “lasts” in high school is not an easy task. Junior year is already tough enough with tons of academic pressure on each student’s shoulders. Hopefully some motivation and advice from seniors who have already completed the application process, and gone through the stressful time which is junior year can help students go through it with ease.