Senior Year
Test preparation
If you haven't taken them already, sign up for the ACT and the SAT Reasoning tests as early as you can. You do not want to be overconfident and then realize that you had one chance and blew it.
ACTACT claims to measure your general educational development and your ability to complete college-level work.
You'll take multiple choice tests covering four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. ACT also offers an optional writing test that measures your skill in planning and writing a short essay.
First introduced in 1959 to compete with the SAT, in the U.S. the ACT is more widely used than the SAT in the Midwest and South, while the SAT is more popular in the East and West.
It will cost you $32 to take the basic ACT test, and $47 to take the test with the writing module.
Close SAT Reasoning TestThe SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test that claims to determine if you're ready for college. It will take you three hours and forty-five minutes to complete the test, and cost you $45.
Since it was first introduced in 1901, its name and scoring has changed several times. Possible scores range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800-point sections (math, critical reading, and writing), along with other subsections scored separately.
Close Use online study guides. Your school may even offer classes to students specifically to help improve the test scores.
Join a Study GroupRachel, who took the test more than once, finally joined a study group. "My test score went up a couple of points, enough to get me a great scholarship," she says.
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Ask nicely!
Ask Nicely!

You're asking for a recommendation!Be sure to give your teacher plenty of time and let him or her know what extracurricular activities you have been involved in over your high school career.
CloseTeacher recommendations
When you are a senior looking toward college, you'll need recommendations. When is a good time to give your teacher your recommendation paper?
Wait, let me rephrase this. When is it
not a good time to give your teacher your recommendation paper?
Never, under any circumstance, ask a teacher for something that has to be finished that night.
Ask your teacher if he will give you a recommendation, and then let him know he has a lot of time. This will also give your teacher time to see your behavior in the class.
Don't blow It, hot rod!

Lookin' Good!
Lookin' Good!

Watch it!CloseA lot of seniors have cars. This is a real privilege but you really don't want to test your parents' rules just because you have a car. For example, you still want to get home at a decent hour.
Be careful how you drive and don't get caught up in the thrill of owning a car or the consequences could be horrible!
In fact, having a part-time job would be great if you can fit it in and still have time to keep your grades up. You can save some money for college or possibly help pay for insurance. Some insurance policies even give a discount to honor roll students.
A lot of seniors have jobs. Even though a paycheck is great, if you're too tired to stay awake in school or your grades drop, it's not a good tradeoff.
Don't Trade Grades for MoneyAaron (not his real name), a senior last year, made the mistake of working too many late hours and spending too much time working on his car.
He missed so many days of school that he had to withdraw and will have to go one more semester this year in order to graduate. Not a good idea!
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| If you haven't started saving already, it's not too late. Use the Googolplex calculators to figure out how much you need to save in order to reach your goal and then begin making deposits to your Mt. Money account at the credit union. |
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