Surviving--and Thriving--Your Senior Year (for teens)

Write It Down

One of the best investments a busy student can make is a calendar or day planner. Take some time to write down all of your upcoming commitments, such as academic deadlines, practice times for athletes or performers, club meetings, social events like homecoming, standardized test dates, college application deadlines, and so on.

But don't stop with getting your schedule into your planner. Look for scheduling conflicts—is your research paper due the same week as the big game? Does the application date for one of your college choices fall on the same day as your star performance in the fall drama production? When you see possible "crunch times," think about what you can do reduce your stress. You might have to buckle down and start that research paper a bit earlier than you'd like, for example.

You can also use your planner or calendar to plan the various steps of large projects. Let's say you've volunteered to plan a fundraiser for one of your organizations. Break the project into smaller pieces—such as researching possible fundraisers, deciding on one fundraiser, recruiting volunteers, training volunteers, finding sponsors, promoting the event, etc. Then write down each step in your planner. You may allow two weeks to research and decide, three weeks to promote the event, and so on. Each week, consult your planner to make sure you stay on course to your goal.

Simplify

Even the most well-organized students can be overwhelmed by too many commitments. If you feel like you're drowning in activity, it may be time to cut back. Of course, blowing off that big Calculus test is not an option (at least, not if you want decent grades), but dropping extracurricular activities that no longer interest you or delegating more leadership responsibilities could give you some relief.

Are you continuing your participation in a particular organization just because you did it last year, or are you truly interested and committed? Senior year is a time to focus on the activities that mean the most to you.

You may also want to look at "time-wasters"—things you do that get in the way of accomplishing your goals. Everyone wastes time, whether by watching too much TV, idly surfing the Internet or playing computer games. You don't want to cut out these pastimes entirely—everyone needs down time. But could limiting your TV-watching to one or two hours a day rather than three or four give you more time to research colleges? (Another strategy is to record or Tivo your favorite shows and watch them later, skipping the commercials.)

Adjust Your Attitude

The college search and admission process itself can be stressful, let alone combining it with the busy schedule of senior year. You can't control what colleges will accept you, but you can control your attitude toward college admission.

Despite what others may tell you, you could be happy and successful at any number of colleges. So don't put pressure on yourself to find that one perfect college. Instead, set a goal of choosing a group of colleges that have the characteristics you want. There is no need to decide on a first-choice college right now, unless one college just stands out.

Maybe your worries aren't about choosing a college, but about whether colleges will choose you. Even though you hear a lot about how difficult getting into college is, there are plenty of colleges that would welcome you with open arms.

"The college market is not really tight," says Robert Massa, vice president for enrollment and student life at Dickinson College (PA). "Only about 5 percent of the 2,400 four-year colleges in this country admit fewer than half of those who apply. There IS a place for you."

Remember, the goal of college admission is to find a college that fits your personal goals, values and personality. It is not a competition to see who among your classmates can get into the most selective or prestigious college. As much as possible, focus on your own interests and goals. Try to stay away from comparing yourself to your friends or classmates. What's right for them may not be right for you.

Take Care of Yourself

No matter how busy you are, make sure you take care of yourself—physically, mentally and spiritually.

For example, it's tempting to stay up an extra few hours or even pull an all-nighter to get things done. But you'll pay the price over the next few days. And losing sleep regularly will take its toll on your health and well-being (not to mention your academic performance).

When you feel overwhelmed or fatigued, make some time to relax, spend time with friends or family, or do something that refreshes you. Talking to a sympathetic friend, family member or guidance counselor can also help.

Finally, this is YOUR senior year. You might be busy, you might feel stressed at times, but also take every opportunity to make your last year in high school a memorable one.