​Second Semester Seniors: Is there anything left to do?

By now, many of you are probably thrilled to be finished with the college application process. While I do know of a few February 15 or later deadlines, all of our senior clients have finished their applications and have either sent in a deposit or are waiting for some decisions to be released next month. So, is there anything left to do on the college admissions front? Here are a few things to consider:

• Don’t slack off! I know, I know, you’ve heard this a million times. But I can assure you that colleges revoking or threatening to revoke admission offers is NOT an urban legend – we’ve seen it happen.  More than once.  If you were a straight A student and get a B or two this spring, you should be just fine. But if you suddenly go from a 4.0 to B's and C’s, you could be in real trouble.

• Attend Admitted Student Days. If you are still contemplating your options, these are great opportunities to see a college in a new light, meet prospective classmates, and ask tons of questions.  If you’ve already submitted your deposit, it is still a fun way to get excited and meet people who will be your classmates. I often hear of people meeting their freshman roommates this way!

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• Think about the Summer. Because I am also a career coach, you probably expect me to tell you to get a jumpstart on internships. While that can be a good idea, and a great way to explore your potential major/field and make sure you like it, it isn’t necessary. This could be one of your last summers to truly take it easy – so spend time with your family and high school friends or work as a camp counselor one last summer. The summer before my freshman year at an Ivy League college, I sold shampoo in a mall hair salon.

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• Update colleges sparingly. If you were deferred or waitlisted at a top choice college, you should update them with any noteworthy new information. But make sure it is something they will actually be impressed by, and don’t overdo it!

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• Read your mail (and e-mail). The college where you enroll will send you lots of important information about housing, course registration, financial aid, etc. Make sure you read it all and pay attention to deadlines! If you’ll be away, have your parents keep an eye on your mail. I remember my dad calling me at the beach during Senior Week to read me the letter with the name of my freshman roommate!

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• Join LinkedIn. High school graduation is a great time to join the grown-up world of social media. You’ll want to have a LinkedIn profile when you start looking for your first internship, so you might as well get started – here are some tips for building a great student profile. Also, if you are evaluating different colleges, careers, or majors, the University alumni search feature is a great tool to see what grads are doing with their degrees.

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• Read a Book. If your college assigned all freshman a book to read, read it! Or for some lighthearted preparation for living on your own, read The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen. Here are some other good articles to check out as you prepare for freshman year.

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• Get excited! Once you’ve decided where to attend, join your class Facebook group, follow your college on Instagram, and buy a travel guide for your new city! You can also check out LoJo Bands for some fun spirit wear made by current Georgetown students and founded by one of our former clients!

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Enjoy the rest of your senior year, but not too much! 

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