What I wish I knew in 12th grade—

Make the best of your senior year while you can, be organized, start the application process early, visit campus, and be prepared for the AP/IB tests

“Where are you going to college?”
“What are you going to major in?”
“What the heck are you going to do with the rest of your life?”

If you haven’t heard these questions yet, get ready. You’ll hear them soon, and you’ll hear them A LOT. But here’s the key – don’t let them get to you! Choosing a college is a process, and a tough one at that, but stay on top of it, know your facts, have a game plan, and you’ll be fine. You’ll be more than fine, in fact – you’re a SENIOR now, and this year is yours to be lived.

Some of the fondest memories I have come from the people and events of my senior year in high school. I know that won’t be the case for everyone – there’s no denying that some people just don’t enjoy high school. My advice to everyone, whether you’re sad to leave the familiar hallways or can’t wait to break through the double doors, is to make the best of it while you have the chance - time flies and there’s no chance of getting it back.

The best way to a great senior year is to be organized and keep on top of things. Start the college selection process early, making sure that you have clear ideas of what exactly you’re looking for in your college choice. Otherwise you’ll end up like me, applying to eleven – that’s right – ELEVEN colleges. The rule of twos is probably best: two safety schools you’ll certainly get in, two dream schools that are harder to get in, and two schools that fall somewhere in between.

The trick to the dreaded college application process is to start early! Have teachers write reference letters that will work for more than one school. Write your personal essays on a general topic that can apply to several prompts – life-changing experiences are usually a safe bet. Keep a folder for each school that you’re interested in and make sure you know the dates when application materials are due. Organization is key!

Another important tip – visit the campuses that you’re interested in! That’s the only way you’ll be sure to pick the right one. I stayed with a friend at Carolina during April of my senior year, and when my mom picked me up from my return flight, I looked at her and said, “Carolina is the place for me!” Or maybe I didn’t say that exactly. Or even at all. But after seeing the campus for myself, there’s no other way to explain it. I just knew. I was a Tar Heel born, a Tar Heel bred, and when I die, I’ll be a Tar Heel dead – it says so in our song.

Despite all of the praise I’d heard, all the college books I’d read, and all the brochures I’d ogled over, it was my visit to UNC that made me realize where I belonged. The campus visit is absolutely essential; don’t choose a school based on the brochure alone. Instead visit the school, meet the people, sit in on the classes, and take it all in – you’ll be glad that you did. There’s somewhere out there for each and every one of you, whether it’s Carolina or somewhere else entirely. Once you find it, you’ll know. And you’ll love it.

Last but not least, and I know you’ve heard this a million times already, but it’s important just the same: Be prepared for your AP/IB exams! I can tell you from personal experience how nice it is to enter college with a load of credit hours under your belt, and moreover how nice it is to take courses that you WANT to take rather than courses you HAVE to take. There’s always going to be one or two requirements that you can’t get around – but there’s nothing better than placing out of a college math or English course thanks to your AP test score.

So take a deep breath. Take it all in – your friends, your favorite teachers, the clubs and sports and organizations that you’re involved in. Senior year changes from September to June in the blink of an eye, so enjoy it while you can. Keep a cool head, submit applications ahead of time, and most importantly HAVE FUN. While college is an absolute blast and I wouldn’t trade my experiences at UNC for anything, I can still look through old photo albums and smile at my memories of senior year. You’ve worked for 12 years to get where you are today – enjoy it :)