Advice From Our Seniors

Image Credit: Vecteezy

By: Ian Tan

Each year, graduating students reflect on their time here and pass on what they’ve learned. We asked the Class of 2026 to share the advice they wish they had known. Here is some advice that they have given us.

1. Start early, especially on essays. The number one regret for most seniors is waiting too long. Start college applications early, and don’t leave it for after summer. Essays and brainstorming, in particular, take more time than most students expect. Also consider working with a counselor to stay on track and to not be afraid to apply to a competitive of impacted majors if that’s where your passion lies

2. Your major matters more than your school. Multiple graduates in our school stressed that choosing the right major is more important than chasing a high prestige university for the most part. In the early college program, try to establish connections with professors early on so you can prepare for your recommendation letters. Try to have these professors be in the same field as your major, or somewhat related. One senior reminds us that it’s okay to not know what major you want when applying, and even if we do think we know, we can always change our minds later

3. Try to get involved, but be strategic about it. Extracurriculars matter, but again, it’s best to select ones that are tied to your intended major. Also the quality and relevance beats having a long list of unrelated activities all of the time.

4. One graduate had a specific tip: study in the morning. They said that your brain is most active early in the day, making it easier to retain information. Try to avoid studying late into the night on a regular basis, while cramming the night before a test can work in a pinch, it’s not a sustainable habit for actually holding onto what you’ve learned.

5. Another graduate also shared that strong grades in challenging classes helped them stand out but also added, “the best option for most people to focus on is extracurriculars, especially ones relevant to what you want to do.” So everything counts in the application process.

Start early, explore your options, build connections, and never stress, the graduates who came before you figured it out, and so will you.