For the last couple months, my life has felt at a crossroads, like I’m stuck between the idea of what’s coming and where I currently am. As someone who’s been committed to college since the middle of December, I’ve found myself feeling quite conflicted about my feelings. As much as I find myself ecstatic about seeing the world outside of Winthrop High School, I also want to hold on tight to the little life I’ve built here. I’ve found myself often reflecting on the last four years and the advice I wish I had been given sooner. I think there is more advice to be given than the stereotypical message about the next four years flying bye. I’ve compiled a list of my top five pieces of advice I wish I not only received but actually understood sooner. This place has taught me not only about the kind of student I can be, but the kind of person I want to be.  So without further adieu, here’s five things I wish I knew before my senior year. 

1. Don’t Take An AP Just To Say You Took It 

By the time I leave Winthrop High School, I will have successfully taken four APs(Lang, APUSH, APES, and Lit). Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen so many people take AP classes just to say they were enrolled in that class. I understand that AP classes can often feel like bragging rights, but I strongly urge you to deeply consider the ones you are taking.  Many students take the AP course just for the GPA boost, however doing poorly one can be just as damaging towards your GPA. Personally, I know where my strong suits are academically. English and History classes have always been where I feel the most confident. Math and sciences have always been a struggle for me. For me AP Calc sounds like it would destroy me, but for others the thought of AP Lit sounds overwhelming. I know that I actively am contradicting my previous statement as I am taking AP Environmental Science. In full transparency, this class has been a challenge for me yet I don’t regret taking it. While it may look good on a college application that you took a challenging AP, it looks worse to have a failing grade in that AP. 

2. Do You Really Want The Free Period? 

At WHS, if you take three or more AP classes, you are automatically given an AP Workshop(which is a fancy name for a free period). Many students will take a third AP junior or senior year because they want a workshop built into their schedule. While the workshop will significantly benefit you, please understand that you will be taking three college level courses. Sure you will be given a break in your day to get work done, but even with the free period you’ll still have a large amount of work. Do not mis-interpret this as me attempting to disway from taking AP classes. I am simply asking you to honestly look at your schedule/the amount of time you have built into a day to get work done before deciding to take on the third AP. 

3. Ask Teachers For Recommendations  Before Senior Year

I genuinely cannot stress this one enough. The college application process can be extremely overwhelming. There are many variables about the process that can be especially daunting; attempting to keep track of deadlines and a long list of requirements before you can submit your official Common App. However, as an applicant you are not the only one with a deadline. Almost every university requires 2 letters of recommendations from your teachers to speak upon your behalf. The teachers you ask should not only have a relationship with you but should be able to speak about the type of person and student you are. It is often recommended to ask one teacher you are close with and one in a field you are looking to pursue. The majority of students will wait until late September or early October of their senior year to ask their teachers to write their letters. However, waiting will only hurt you. The longer you wait to ask, you will get pushed farther down their list. Of course they’ll still get it to you on time, but the teachers are doing you a favor by writing it. The least you can do is ask them for it early so they have ample time to write it. This way you also will get towards the beginning of their list, before they are swamped with them. I would recommend having asked the 2-3 teachers by the end of your junior year.  This way you are at the top of their list the following school year. Lastly, I would check in with these teachers at the start of your senior year to remind them about the conversation you had at the end of junior year.

4. Apply to at least 3-4 schools Early Decision 

Like I previously mentioned, I’ve been committed to my school since the middle of December and I actually can’t describe the relief I’ve felt the last couple months. The earliest you can hear back from schools, the sooner you can make a decision about what’s to come. As someone who deals with anxiety, the idea of a prolonged waiting period would not be good for me. Even if all of your Early decision schools don’t come back the way you want, you still are getting answers. Regular decision results come out between March and April. This doesn’t give you much time to decide as the majority of colleges require a commitment by early May.  Why spend the entirety of senior year waiting for results when you can hear back on a few schools sooner? Early Decision is designed to ease your apprehension so why not take advantage of this opportunity. By applying Early Decision,your applications will be due sooner. However, this is a small price to pay to begin the process of making your decision sooner. 

5. Do The Open House for Your Top Schools

There is so much more to a school than the physical campus. As someone who was between two universities, I honestly believe that the open house was what solidified my decision. These events go deeper than just a tour of the buildings. They allow you a look into what your life as an attendee of this school could be. You’ll have the opportunity to meet with professors and attend panels on the intricacies of the university.  The most impactful part of my Simmons Open House was actually a student led panel. I listened as these women discussed how empowered and inspired they have felt during their time at Simmons. They talked about how they have found their voices, seeing themselves as the leaders they always knew they could be. They discussed feeling stifled by the men around them in high school, how their quirks were seen as  inadequacies by those around them. Admitially, this panel moved me to tears. Not only did I feel seen by their stories but I felt as though this university was designed with me in mind. I would never have found where I was meant to be without attending this open house. 

To conclude, I would just like to say, to soak up the time you have while you have it. It’s extremely easy to get caught up in longing for a life outside of WHS but I can assure you, your time will come. If you spend the rest of your time here wishing it away, you will miss everything that is happening in front of you. As cliche as it may seem, high school really does move faster than you expect. Eventually the sand in the hour glass will run out and your time will come to leave this place. I hope my advice gave you something to think about. As a second semester senior, I can assure you that these tips would have made a world of difference for me. Good luck and I hope you found my advice helpful.