As the summer buzz spreads around campus, the Class of 2016 cannot wait to erase the words “school work” from their vocabulary.

Summer is all about relaxation and  recovering from the months of hard work at school. Juniors anticipate the lack of early alarms, going out with friends, and getting their long overdue tan back.

But just as the Class of 2016 started preparing for a relaxing break, summer became serious for these upcoming seniors.

At a recent Junior Class Assembly, Members of the class of 2015, Annika Smith, Elyssa Katz, Terry O’Brien, and Loren Po had plenty of words of wisdom to share for one of the most important summers, the one between junior and senior year.

Hanging out for a part of the summer is a great way to recharge, but planning ahead for senior year is a necessity.

Terry O’Brien ’15 said, “Over the summer all incoming seniors should get as much done with the college process as possible.” He added, “I know that does not sound fun, and most people would like to relax most of the summer, but that is the best advice I can give.”

Assistant Director of College Counseling, Emily McDowell, offered some further suggestions for juniors. “First, have something planned. Colleges want to see that you are being productive, not just playing video games all summer.”

Students may confuse looking productive and actually being productive.

Elyssa Katz ’15 mentioned, “Colleges will know when you’re adding things to your resume as a filler just to ‘look good.’  If you’re investing yourself in something you’re passionate about, that will show.”

Some options Mrs. McDowell suggested student do included, “[Getting] a job, a volunteer position, an internship, or babysitting.” She continued, “There are no bad choices, just do something that will help you grow as a person.”

She added, “Your choices of activity can often inspire a great essay!”

Summer is the perfect time to get out into the college world. Mrs. McDowell said, “You should visit any and all schools that you can, and have an idea of the 5-7 ‘definites’ on your list.”

The Common Application is another key element of the college process. According to The Common Application website, It is “an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to any of 517 member colleges and universities in 47 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.”

Elyssa Katz ’15 says, “The most helpful thing for me was honing my Common Application essay early on.  This both alleviated some pressure during senior fall, and provided me with a huge time advantage in my editing process.”

As much as students dislike standardized tests, Mrs. McDowell says, “Doing some focused preparation for SAT, ACT and TOEFL is a must. Studies show that consistency, not quantity is the key to improvement on the fall tests.”

This might seem overwhelming, but if you plan ahead, stay organized and follow these tips, your senior year will be less stressful.