How to Make the Most out of Winter Break
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Despite being a fun and festive time, it can be hard for high school seniors to know how to make the most out of winter break. With the amount of hours available, it can be tempting to simply lay on the couch in pajamas all day long, binge watching television. To help avoid this, here are a few ways which you can remain productive and ensure that time is being used wisely!
- Review and Submit College Applications
The submission deadline for many applications is January 1st, and the last thing you want to be doing on New Year’s Eve is scrambling to finish your application. Doing this will result in poor quality, and this is not how you want to show yourself to colleges. Make sure every part of the application has been completed to the best of your ability, and will only increase your chances of being accepted. Look over your essay with a fine tooth comb for spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors. If possible, have family members and friends read it as well, to pick up any small mistakes you may miss. Double check the spelling of your name, your address and look over your resume one last time to ensure that you have included everything you wanted to. Lastly, make sure you submit your application as soon as possible. Many people will wait until the last day to submit them, and this can often cause the system to slow down or even crash. Submitting your application a few days before the deadline will allow you to enjoy your winter break in peace, knowing that your application is in on time and you will not be penalized for any late submissions. For more tips on college applications, view College Board’s Application Checklist.
- On Campus Tours
Although most colleges offer campus tours on weekends and certain holidays, it can be difficult to find a time that works. Winter break is a great time to visit, as most people are on vacation. Because of this, you will have a smaller tour group and an opportunity to ask more questions. Visiting a college is the best way to help envision yourself there and see if you will truly enjoy it. Before visiting, make a list of questions that you have, as well as things that are important to you(for example, does the school have your desired major?) Doing this will help ease any anxiety you have and make sure you choose the best college for you. For more tips on college visits, view College Board’s Campus Visit Checklist.
- Start reviewing for AP Exams
AP Exams don’t begin until May, but getting an early start on things never hurts! After all of the hard work you have put in throughout the year, you want to make sure you get a qualifying score. AP classes move at an accelerated pace and cover a lot, so taking some time to review during winter break will ensure that the information has been learned, not just memorized. Reviewing notes that have been taken in class is a good way to study, but there are also many other resources available online. College Board offers many practice tests online, which can serve as a guide to see where you excel, and what needs more work.
- Begin the Search for Scholarships
Around winter break, many scholarships become available. Investing a few hours during winter break searching for scholarships may pay off big in the end. It is advisable to apply for any scholarship you qualify for, even if you do not think you will get it. The ones that require a bit more work, such as having to write an essay will usually have less competition, as many people will be discouraged to apply to these because of the extra effort required. Great places to find scholarships are your school, local business, and online. Some websites that help students find scholarships are College Board, Scholarships.com, and Chegg.com, although there are hundreds more as well.