1. Go to school events and sports games. This year is your last chance.

2. Your counselors are there as a resource, use them!

3. Common App should be your friend, not your enemy. It can seem daunting at first, but once you learn how to use it, it is so helpful.

4. Do not let your test scores freak you out, they are not everything and they do not determine how smart you are.

5. I remember being stressed that I wouldn’t get into any of the colleges I applied to, you will get in somewhere, I promise. And there are so many post high school options including college, trade school, and job opportunities.

6. Do not let where your friends or peers are going influence your college decision. You are going to college for yourself, not them.

7. Visit any colleges you can. Every school you see in person gives you a better idea of what you are looking for.

8. That being said, don’t buy into the myth that “you will immediately know which college is for you when you visit campus.”

9. Always apply to at least one safety school. Like, seriously, do it.

10. There will be a lot of lasts this year, so soak up every moment.