Blog post written by Hunter Amo
With graduation on the horizon, senior year is a great time to turn your college plans into action. Use the summer to explore your interests, strengthen your academic and extracurricular profile, and prepare for the college application process. This list is a great place to find ideas on how to make the most of your summer.
⬜ What makes me happy?
Think about the subjects, hobbies and activities that interest you. For some, these may be clear, but for others they are still deciding what things they like to do, and that’s okay. Explore college program pages and different career ideas—you can even take online career tests that match your interests and personality with a job!
⬜ Talk to your guidance advisor.
High school counselors can offer insight into your strengths, help you plan a 12th-grade schedule that aligns with your interests, and connect you with great scholarship opportunities. UM-Dearborn also has a page on scholarships that you can browse.
⬜ Get involved!
Participating in activities outside of class makes you a well-rounded student. Consider joining a club or sports team, volunteering, or taking on another leadership role that helps you stand out in college applications.
⬜ Prepare yourself academically.
Get a head start on college! A great way to prep for college is to take AP and honors classes, which can earn you college credit while you're still in high school! UM-Dearborn offers students the opportunity to enroll in college courses while still in high school through our Dual Enrollment Program.
⬜ Research colleges.
Go on road trips, get involved with campus tours, and make a list of things that you desire in a college. Take a look at the cost of attendance (which can be found on the university website) when touring and considering different colleges. There are some financial aid options available that can help offset the cost of college, such as scholarships, grants, and loans.
⬜ Make fun memories!
College prep is important, but don’t spend the whole year worrying about applications. Here is an optional (but highly recommended!) rapid-fire list of activities to check off of your 12th-grade bucket list.
- Tour an out-of-state college
- Attend a college sporting event
- Start building a 12th-grade playlist in your favorite music app
- Make an 11th-grade photo album
- Read a book that isn’t assigned for class
- Write a letter to your future self
- Ask someone you admire about their career path
- Do something that scares you
- Explore an interesting college town
- Sit in on a college class
