May 4, 2023

In 20 days, 17 hours, 49 minutes, and 22 seconds.

That is the response I received the other day when I asked a high school senior when she would graduate. Not that anyone is counting, right? Turns out, the senior had an app on her phone counting the days to graduation.

If you are a high school senior getting ready to graduate, the countdown to graduation is exciting but it is a reminder that you have a lot to do in just a few short months.

High School Classes

• Do not neglect your studies these last few weeks of school. Any scholarships or admissions you have already received may be contingent on your final grades.
• If you are taking AP classes, make sure you understand how you can earn college credit for your AP exam scores.
• You may be ready to say goodbye to high school, but do not say goodbye to important connections. Your high school teachers may serve as a reference for you or may be someone you need to contact after graduation. Find out the best way to contact them or if you can list them as a reference, if needed.

Celebration

• Make sure you have everything you need for the graduation ceremony – the cap and gown and the dates of any practice sessions.
• If you or your family are planning a graduation celebration, make an invitation list. If you want some of your senior friends at your celebration, compare dates and times to make sure your celebration is not conflicting with their celebrations.
• Get some thank you notes to have on hand so you can write thank you notes right away. It may seem to be an old-fashioned opinion, but an email is not a sufficient thank you when someone sends you some money for graduation.

College Prep

• It is not too early to start planning your move to college. Review our college packing checklist so you are ready for the big move in August.
• Sign up for a college orientation session – the earlier, the better. Sessions tend to get busier later in the summer. In addition, the earlier you attend orientation, the better choice of classes and it allows you more time to get ready for that first day of college class.

Money

• Save some money for college. Set aside some of those graduation gifts and plan on getting a summer job. Start looking for a summer job now so you will be able to work after graduation.
• Plan your in-college budget. It will give you an idea of how much you will need to save and what expenses you can expect while in college.

Whatever the number of days until your graduation, it can seem like a long time – 20 days, wow! Those days are going to go fast, since you will be busy preparing for graduation and the future. Congratulations!