This story is part of an ongoing "Mustangs Ahead" series detailing some of the challenges and opportunities LRHS seniors face as they consider their futures in higher education.
Mia Morelli - Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - For Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) seniors, the start of the school year often brings excitement about graduation and life after high school. However, along with senior events and preparing for graduation comes an important responsibility: navigating the college application process.
From taking standardized tests to applying for financial aid and scholarships, seniors have several deadlines and requirements to keep track of. For Florida students, one of the most crucial programs to understand is Bright Futures, a state scholarship program that can help pay for college.
Financial aid is an important part of the process, but college preparation begins long before students submit their applications. Standardized testing can be a major source of stress.
LRHS senior Victoria Peterson said the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) has been the most stressful part of her college application experience.
“So far, I’ve taken it six times,” Peterson said.
Beyond applications, testing, and financial aid, senior year can also be a time for students to reflect on their accomplishments throughout high school.
For Peterson, that reflection has been one of the most difficult parts of the process.
“I have had to look back on everything I’ve done in order to summarize myself as a person,” Peterson said. “That has been difficult, putting all four years of work into one tiny box.”
Students also have access to resources designed to help them throughout the college search and application process. One of the most recognizable organizations is College Board, which provides several services for students preparing for college.
College Board administers the SAT and provides students with registration, scores, and testing information. Its Bright Future website allows students to research colleges, majors, careers, scholarships, and financial-aid information. College Board also administers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams, which can potentially allow students to earn college credit depending on their scores and the policies of the colleges they hope to attend.
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Another College Board resource is the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile, a financial-aid application used by some colleges to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid. Through Bright Futures and other College Board resources, students can also explore scholarship opportunities and compare college options.
With so many different parts of the process, senior year can feel overwhelming. However, understanding the available resources and completing important applications early can make the transition from high school to college more manageable.
For Florida seniors, knowing the requirements for Bright Futures, completing the Florida Financial Aid Application, submitting the FAFSA when it opens, and staying on top of college and testing deadlines are all important steps.
As seniors prepare to leave LRHS behind, the college process is not simply about choosing where to go next. It is also about taking the steps necessary to make that next chapter possible.