The senior year of high school comes with a significant amount of responsibility, especially when it comes to applying for college.
To stay on top of the application process, we recommend working on applications during the summer before senior year. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork without the added pressure of schoolwork. 
Here are some summer before senior year to-dos:
Finalize the college list. We recommend researching potential colleges, exploring their programs, locations, and campus life to develop a list of schools that align with academic goals and personal preferences.
Start applications. In our office, we help students begin working on their applications through our college application jumpstart – a weeklong workshop where we help students fill out general information, create their activities list, draft personal statements or supplements, and answer questionnaires for teacher + counselor recommendations. Getting a head start over the summer reduces stress and improves the quality of applications overall.
(Interested in learning more about the college application jumpstart? Learn more here.)
Remember, time management is key. Setting aside specific hours each week during the summer to focus on tasks will reduce school year stress. In our office, we focus on having students complete a few to-dos per week, with the idea of being done with all applications by the first week in December. Staying organized with a checklist or calendar to track deadlines for different schools can prevent overlooking important dates and details around early decision or scholarship deadlines.
The college application process can be fun *yes, really!* We like to think about the process as a time of discovery and exploration. By getting an early start in the summer, students find the college application process less overwhelming. The goal is to start senior year with a great deal of work completed, so the focus is on completing polished applications that reflect their best work.
A message from Green Ivy’s founder, Ana Homayoun: “A lot of the things we do in our office are all about helping students understand their own story and figure out a way to present it that is comprehensive and yet really meaningful. Each student is unique, and a lot of times, by the time you get to senior year, you think you’re just like everyone else – you don’t necessarily fully realize your uniqueness.”