ugh senior year

So after this summer, I start my senior and I am petrified.

I'm a pretty good student ( all As, 98th percentile in my class, AP classes ) but I'm afraid for college. I'm afraid to write college essays, taking the SATs, everything.

I've always wanted to go off to college - to finally get away from my parents. But lately?

I'm just scared. This next year is so so so important and I feel like I'm gonna screw it up.


ughh

Did you take the PSAT this past year? You'll do even better on the SAT. Do you know what you want to study in college, versus just wanting to go? That could help with your excitement getting there and looking forward, thus seeing the testing, essay writing, etc. as chores/assignments that have to be done like any other.

College was a bit of a letdown for me; high school was actually "harder". I got my first degree mostly on my native intelligence and what I'd learned in high school. If you enjoy specific subjects that can help and if you have good study habits. I would drop some of the care about grades; when you graduate from college, no one will care and when you get into college, no one will care what you did in high school, etc. Getting into college pretty much happens with your freshman through first semester senior grades anyway since you have to apply and get accepted before you graduate. With your grades, I'd apply for early admission or other sorts of things, just for the practice. See if you can think of the application process as a "game"/maze. Back in my day (pre-computers) we had to go to the field house and stand in lines to register for classes and I use to time myself each semester, to see how fast and well I could get through (can be hard to get certain popular classes or professors).

I just graduated high school a few weeks ago, and I'll be heading off to college in the fall. I'm a good student, graduated as valedictorian, and also took college level courses and college credit courses.

The thing I want to share with you is, I was kind of nervous at the beginning of my senior year as well. I wasn't sure I was ready. But as I progressed through the year, I realized I was ready to be done with high school. High school bored me greatly. The classes were easy, I barely had to try to get by. Honestly, I think the part about high school I will miss the most is being able to be a three sport athlete.

I also agree with Perna though. It's a big deal to have something to be excited about. If you're just "going" it may not seem as appealing or something to look forward to. I'm going to be playing a sport in college, and I'm definitely looking forward to getting away from my parents so that I can get some space to get better mentally.

Also...I think it's perfectly normal to feel nervous. It's a big deal. You're going to be on your own more so than you've ever been before. It's supposed to be a totally different experience, but also a brand new start. It's the start of your own life, for the most part...

As for how to handle your senior year...I tried to enjoy it the best I could. I would take some fun classes or classes about something you're interested in. I took advanced foods, and I loved it. The time is coming whether you want it to or not...That is really something I had to accept. But I found that I went from being extremely nervous about college, to feeling kind of ready and excited for the new experience and the next chapter in my life. I don't think I ever smiled or felt so happy as I did on graduation day. I was truly happy (which is saying something for someone with depression ).

Either way, I wish you luck, and I hope you find you are more ready than you feel right now.

I just finished my second year of college. Applying for schools and taking those tests is very scary. It's almost equally as scary to pick a school and move out. When I was a senior, there was this one school that I really wanted to go to. I was rejected and ended up going somewhere else. Turns out that I am exactly where I need to be and had I gone to my original top choice school, that would have been a disaster for various different reasons. I know this isn't terribly helpful to hear, but you'll find a good place for you. If you screw up and hate it, you can transfer. I should warn you against transferring too soon, however, because the first semester of freshmen year can be extremely lonely as you work on making new friends. It will get better though.

Picking a college is very important, but it's not the most important decision of your life. It's not like planning a child or something.