4 Tips for Seniors in November and December

If you are a senior, November and December are your busiest months of the year!

• Applications are due 
• Audition reels are due
• Essays need to be written
• If you have decided to take the SATs/ACTs, now is the time to take them
• Senior classes are just getting more difficult
• Holidays are coming up

And … 

• Virtual or not, you are likely in fall dance shows and/or rehearsing for holiday ones.

Eeekkkk!

So, how do you fit in all of your “To-Do’s” and still get some sleep?

Here are 4 Tips to help you through:

Tip #1: Make a Priority Map

Organize your schedule so that you are doing the most important and timely things first. This way, you KNOW you are getting all of your projects and applications in on time.  Make a big monthly day-by-day map, list all of the “to-do’s”, and post it on your wall.  Make this your priority map. 

Tip #2: Understand Your Deadlines

If you have applied as an Early Decision or Early Action candidate, then those deadlines have come and gone, but you still don’t know if you have been accepted, so the work has to continue: i.e., You will need to get all of your other applications ready to be submitted by the due dates, because you will not know the outcome of the ED/EA until the latter part of December.

Tip #3: Work on Supplemental Essays

Do you still have supplemental essays to write? If you have written more than one essay, are any of these essays able to be re-used?  One question that colleges almost always ask is “Why did you choose xyz university?”  Of course you will not be able to use the same essay for this question, but you can change and edit it for the various cities where those universities are located.  

If you have no other supplemental essays to write, you can concentrate on your current courses, your dance activities, or any holiday activities that are important to you.  

Tip #4: Use Your Time Wisely

Most colleges this year are test optional which means that you do not have to submit the SAT or ACT scores that have been required in previous years.  Instead of studying for these exams, use the time to review and finish up your applications -- or do some dance conditioning!

AND, if you still have some time, the best advice? This is the time to do some volunteering at shelters or food banks.  If for some reason you get waitlisted at your top choice, you can supplement your WL essay with all of the activities you have been doing from your initial application.  This will show the university that you are a serious candidate who continues to try to show involvement with activities that are important to you.

Remember that this can be a stressful time of the year - but it will be over soon. Do the best you can and make sure to carve out time to relax and spend time with loved ones!

Written by: Suzanne Jeffrey
Photo Credit: Olivia Bauso