Introduction
December can feel scattered for seniors. They are managing exams, wrapping up fall activities, checking portals, and reacting to December decisions. Counselors are also stretched thin and trying to close out the semester while preparing students for January deadlines.
Instead of overwhelming seniors with large tasks, focus on three small actions that help them stay organized over break. These take only a few minutes, but they prevent many of the issues that appear in January. Here is how counselors can guide students through these quick wins.
1. Have Seniors Log Into Every Portal They Already Have
One of the biggest problems in January is students discovering missing items that have been sitting in their portal for weeks.
How to advise them:
- Ask seniors to log into each portal in front of you or during advisory.
- Tell them to look specifically for missing items.
- Explain that colleges and counselors operate on holiday schedules, so issues are harder to fix later.
- Reinforce that the portal, not the Common App, shows whether the file is complete.
Talk point for students:
“Submitting the Common App is step one. The portal tells you if your application is actually complete.”
2. Help Students Clean Up Their College List
A quick review of their list can save students from wasting time on schools they no longer plan to apply to. This helps them focus when they return in January.
How to guide them:
- Have students remove any college they would not realistically attend.
- Ask them to check cost, major fit, and requirements one more time.
- Remind them that a shorter, intentional list is easier to manage during break.
Talk point for students:
“A focused list helps you spend your time on applications that matter.”
3. Ask Students to Write Down Questions for January
Students often think of important questions during break but forget them once the semester starts again.
How to guide them:
- Encourage students to keep a running note on their phone.
- Have them write down anything confusing in portals or applications.
- Tell them not to expect quick replies from colleges or counselors during break.
- Let them know you will review their questions when school reopens.
Talk point for students:
“If something feels confusing over break, write it down and bring it to me in January.”
Resource: Quick Wins Card for Counselors to Share
You can copy and paste this into an email, advisory slide, or counseling webpage.
Quick Wins Before Break
▢ Log into every college portal and check for missing items
▢ Clean up your college list and remove schools you do not plan to apply to
▢ Write down questions to ask your counselor in January
▢ Review supplements for any January deadlines
Closing
Small steps help seniors stay organized without adding stress during a busy time of year. A few minutes of guidance now can prevent hours of confusion during break. These quick wins are easy to share, easy to complete, and make a real difference in January.