Senior year. The final lap. The countdown. The year you’ve been waiting for since you were a wide-eyed freshman navigating crowded hallways and still figuring out which way was up.

But let me tell you the truth: senior year is not just pep rallies, promposals, and coasting to graduation. It’s a rollercoaster—and there are a few things I really wish I had known before it all began.

Here’s what I’d go back and tell my pre-senior-year self (and what I hope helps you feel more prepared than I was):

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1. Senior Year Is Not the Time to Check Out

I thought senior year would be the easiest of them all. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

Colleges still look at your first semester grades. And trust me, it’s harder to stay motivated when everyone around you is already dreaming of dorm rooms and dining halls.

What I wish I knew:
Keep showing up. Keep studying. Keep trying. Slacking off early can come back to bite you—especially when mid-year reports are sent to colleges.

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2. Start College Apps Early—Earlier Than You Think

August 1 might be the official Common App launch date, but if you wait until September to start, you’ll be drowning in deadlines and essay drafts while trying to survive your final year of high school.

What I wish I knew:
Use your summer wisely. Even writing messy drafts helps. And the earlier you hit “submit,” the sooner you breathe easier.

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3. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out

I thought everyone else had the perfect college list, the perfect major, the perfect plan.

They didn’t. And neither do you need to.

What I wish I knew:
It’s okay to still be exploring. Apply with curiosity, not pressure. Colleges expect growth, not perfection.

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4. Ask for Help—People Want to Support You

There were so many moments when I felt overwhelmed—by essays, applications, scholarships, decisions. I wish I had leaned on the people around me more.

What I wish I knew:
Your counselors, teachers, parents, and friends are in your corner. You don’t have to do it all alone. Ask questions. Get feedback. Vent when you need to.

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5. It Goes by Fast—Really Fast

Between senior portraits, homecoming, final tests, and college decisions, the year blurs by. One minute you’re picking out your first day outfit, and the next you’re tossing your cap in the air.

What I wish I knew:
Savor it. Go to the football game. Take the silly group photo. Say thank you to the teachers who shaped you. These are the moments you’ll carry with you.

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6. Comparison Will Steal Your Joy

Everyone gets caught up in who’s applying where, who got in early, who’s already decorated their future dorm. But none of that defines your journey.

What I wish I knew:
Focus on your own path. Celebrate others, but protect your peace. You are more than a college decision.

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7. You’ll Be Okay—No Matter What

Maybe you don’t get into your dream school. Maybe your plans shift. Maybe you surprise yourself with a new goal.

What I wish I knew:
College is not the end-all, be-all. It’s just the next chapter—and your story is still unfolding beautifully.

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Final Thoughts

Senior year is exciting, exhausting, emotional, and everything in between. But if you walk into it with perspective, intention, and a little grace for yourself, you’ll come out stronger—and ready for what’s next.