Juniors, are you starting feel to like something is approaching? Is it an exciting or even whimsical feeling? If your answer is “yes,” it is probably due to the thought of senior pictures, senior banquet, prom, or finally walking across the stage in our cap and gown that is slowly moving its way into your consciousness.

We don’t have a lot of time, class of 2020. Senior pictures are just a few short  months away, and it’s supposed to be our best picture of our school career. You’re probably thinking about how your hair is gonna look or, for the ladies, what makeup look you are going to choose for this important shot. Before you know it, we’ll be gathered around busses headed to Senior Unity Day, and in the blink of an eye, we will be in an auditorium having an assembly to prepare us for graduation.

Despite the perks of being a senior, our top priorities are supposed to be school-based affairs, not our social status. As seniors, we need to be focusing on SAT and ACT tests, applying for scholarships, and figuring out how to handle our application fees.

We had our first SAT testing day in April, and let’s be real: many of us juniors are probably not satisfied about the results. Fortunately, we have the option to retake it. So, if you have barely touched Khan Academy, you need to hop on the wagon. College is waiting for the digits.

For scholarships, it is important to start looking early. According to Paint Branch’s College Career Coordinator, Ms. Murphy, one way to find scholarships is to diversify your search engines. Fastweb and College Board, for example, are great ways to find scholarships. They allows you to filter through scholarships that you would be eligible for.

One important thing to keep in mind, according to PB’s College Career Counselor, is to avoid scholarships that charge you to apply for them. “If they ask you to pay money for the information or to pay money to apply, that’s a private company trying to make money off of you; that’s a scam,” says Mrs. Murphy.

Another important element that will come faster than many of us think is college applications, which can be quite expensive. The average cost of a college application, according to CNBC News, “is $43, with the most common fee being $50.”

Having to face these hefty application fees is a challenge, so keep in mind some methods that can help you avoid some of them. Try to seek some on-site admission for colleges where you fill out your application on the spot without the obstacle of an online application fee.

Another method to help defray the cost of applications is to find out if you are eligible for the free or reduced plan. Mrs. Murphy notes that students who qualify for this can get a SAT/ ACT test fee waiver. If they receive that, then automatically in the fall, the College Board will give them four college application fee waivers, killing two birds with one stone.                       

 Our time as seniors is coming. Get a job this summer and save up. You’ll thank yourself later. Because after this year– school will be digging into our pockets the most.