As the end of the 2025-2026 school is quickly approaching and the Class of 2026 is preparing for graduation, current seniors offered advice, tips and tricks and information to the upcoming senior class that they wish they would’ve known before their senior year.
Many seniors interviewed commented that they wished they would have been more on top of college deadlines. Ava Gerome said, “Get your common app done as soon as possible because if you get your applications submitted right away it’s a huge stress reliever,” while Caleb Link advised upcoming seniors not to procrastinate important things like housing, applications, and schoolwork. He said, “It’s a big year. You’re applying to a college, so just stay on top of everything and don’t put things off.” Gerome also said, “I started scholarships later, around December. I recommend starting way sooner than that.”
With academic classes, social events, extra curriculars, and everything that comes with college applications, it can be difficult to remain organized and meet the various deadlines. To stay on top of deadlines, Gerome said, “I would sit down with my mom at the dinner table at the end of every week and we would talk about and write down all deadlines for college applications and scholarships.” Natalie Cox said to stay organized she would “write things down in three different spaces and make sure to check them all daily.” Cox also said that she would make sure to “use study hall or extra time in classes efficiently to work on either schoolwork or college applications.”
Seniors said that Mrs. Angie Noble’s College Essay Bootcamp over the summer and academic class, Advanced Placement Language and Composition, helped them a lot during their Senior year. Link said, “AP Lang [Advanced Placement Language and Composition] helped me the most during my senior year. It allowed me to get a head start on common app, as Mrs. Noble allotted a lot of time for us in class to work on that, resumes and college essay.” Gerome said, “I did my college essay over the summer in Mrs. Noble’s camp [College Essay Bootcamp] which helped me a lot with the whole college application process.”
Many seniors recommended continuing to stay involved, or if you previously haven’t been, to start getting involved. Cox said, “Take as many opportunities as you can to get involved because it really is your last chance to do that in the high school setting. Like I became president of the St. Vincent de Paul Club, continued to challenge myself academically, and led Kairos and the days of renewal for sophomores and freshmen.” Carter Kent added, “Get involved. Do something you haven’t done in your past three years at McNick.”
Cox reminded the Class of 2027 that “Some of those challenges and hard times you face will pass and you’re stronger than you know.”
The McNicholas Milestone 