College applications, high level classes, and standardized tests are just a few of the reasons that senior year is by far the busiest year for a high schooler.  All of this makes your last year of high school very tedious.  But with these four pieces of vital advice from the class of 2015, you’re sure to have a lot less stress.

• Don’t wait to take standardized tests.

If you plan on going to a four-year university, you will have to take the SAT or ACT. These are cumulative tests that test your knowledge of math, sciences, reading, and writing. Each are at least three hours long and very difficult. That is why it is a good idea to take them more than once in order to obtain the best score possible.

But many seniors this year have found themselves in a rush to take their first test before college deadlines.  “I’m only taking the SAT once in October and that really stresses me out,” said senior Shay Townsend.  In order to not feel behind, students should start by taking the PSAT in their sophomore year.  This is a practice SAT and can prepare you for the material that you will see on the SAT.  Juniors should begin taking the SAT/ACT in the spring.  If you’re not satisfied with your score, you can take it again in the summer, and one last test in the fall of your senior year.  After all, practice makes perfect.

• Find something to get involved in and stick with it.

A struggle for some seniors is trying to find enough extracurricular activities to include on applications, especially if they have not joined a club or been involved in school activities. To avoid this, start early: in your freshman or sophomore year, find a club, sport, or job that you enjoy and then stick with it. If colleges see that you have been involved with a club or sport for a few years, it shows that you have dedication and consistency. Extracurricular activities are important to admission counselors, so the more you have, the better off you are. “Not only should you get involved with a club, you should run for a leadership role in that club too. This will look even better on applications,” said senior Kylee Dixon.

• Keep your grades up.

Yes, this is obvious. Everyone knows that your GPA plays a huge factor in getting into your dream school. But often, high schoolers don’t start thinking about college until their junior year, at which point they begin trying harder to raise their GPA’s. However, by then, the damage may already be done.   “You should really start building up your GPA in 8th grade,” said senior Megan Copenhaver. Some students begin taking high school classes in their 8th grade year which means colleges will see those on your transcript as well. So remember that those 8th, 9th, and 10th grade grades will have a great impact on your GPA. Junior year will be the last full year colleges will see on your transcript and this will play a big role as well. So be consistent, work hard, and don’t wait until the last minute to improve your GPA.

• Build a bond with a teacher.

This can help you a lot throughout high school. They can be your confidant, help you when you’re struggling in a subject, and even be a mentor after graduation. But how they can really help you senior year is by writing you a recommendation for college or a job. Remember: The better a teacher knows you (and the better your performance in their class) the better and more personal the recommendation they’ll give you.