Living out through high school can feel like you’re the main character in a teen movie, exciting, nerve-wracking, and totally unpredictable.
 
One of the best resources for advice? Your school’s seniors! They’ve been where you are and have stories and insights that can make your journey a bit smoother.
 
In this article we will help out map out exactly the questions you should ask to make your time through high school and eventually college as fun as possible!  
 

Why Ask Seniors in High School? 

 
Here’s why asking them questions is super important:
 
First up, seniors can give you the real scoop on what to expect in the coming year. They can share their experiences about classes, teachers, and how to juggle all those crazy commitments.
 
It's like having a sneak peek into your future, which can really help you prep. Plus, they can offer tips on the do’s and don'ts that aren’t in your school handbook.
 
Second, seniors can be goldmines of advice when it comes to the emotional rollercoaster that is senior year.
 
They know all about the stress of college applications, the excitement of senior prom, and everything in between.
 
Getting their perspective can help you manage your expectations and maybe even ease some of those jitters about stepping into the unknown after graduation.
 

Questions About College Plans And Preparation

 
Thinking about college can be as exhausting as deciding what to watch on Netflix on a Friday night, so many options, so little time!
 
Your high school seniors can help demystify some of that for you. Here are 10 questions to ask them about preparing for college:
 
  1. How did you decide which colleges to apply to?
  2. What was your strategy for tackling the SAT or ACT?
  3. How have you handled your college interviews, if you’ve had any?
  4. Can you share any tips on writing a killer college application essay?
  5. What’s one thing you wish you had known before starting the college application process?
  6. How did you go about securing letters of recommendation?
  7. What are the best resources for finding scholarships and financial aid?
  8. How early did you start preparing for college applications?
  9. What mistakes did you make during the college application process that you'd warn others about?
  10. How do you balance schoolwork while preparing for college?

 

Questions About Career Goals

 

While some of us might still be figuring out how to not burn microwave popcorn, others are all set on their career paths and your high school seniors could very well have already mapped out what is coming next for them.
 
Here’s your chance to get some career advice from those who are a little ahead in the game. Check out these 10 great questions about career goals that might spark a unique interest in something:
 
  1. How did you decide on your intended career or field of study?
  2. What internships or jobs have you had that helped confirm your career choice?
  3. Who in your field do you look up to, and why?
  4. How do you plan on using your desired degree?
  5. What skills do you think are essential for your career path?
  6. Have you taken any specific courses that have been particularly helpful for your career goals?
  7. What’s the biggest challenge you foresee in pursuing your career?
  8. How important do you think networking is in your chosen career?
  9. What are your plans after college to start your career?
  10. Have you joined any clubs or organizations that are aligned with your career goals?

 

Questions About High School Memories

 
Ask seniors to rewind and play back some of their favorite moments with these 10 questions, this is not necessarily helpful for you but it will surely get you to bond over something which allows you to ask the questions you should be asking:
 
  1. What’s your favorite high school memory?
  2. Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
  3. What was the funniest thing that ever happened to you at school?
  4. Did you have a favorite class or project? What made it great?
  5. How have you changed since freshman year?
  6. What’s the best school event you attended?
  7. What clubs or sports did you join, and what was your best moment there?
  8. What’s one thing you’d do differently if you could redo high school?
  9. How did you make your mark on the school?
  10. What advice would you give to underclassmen?

 

Questions About Handling Stress And Challenges

 
Senior year can sometimes feel like you’re stuck in a video game on the hardest difficulty level.
 
Here’s how to get some cheat codes from seniors with these 10 questions about managing stress and challenges, try to ask the right questions:
 
  1. How do you deal with academic pressure?
  2. What was your biggest challenge in high school, and how did you overcome it?
  3. How do you balance school, extracurriculars, and social life?
  4. What’s your go-to method for de-stressing?
  5. Can you share a time when you felt overwhelmed and what you did about it?
  6. What motivates you when things get tough?
  7. How do you handle setbacks?
  8. What’s the best advice you’ve received about managing stress?
  9. How important is time management in your school life?
  10. What tools or apps do you use to keep yourself organized?

 

Questions About Life Lessons

 
Seniors are almost at the finish line and along the way, they’ve learned a thing or two not just about Pythagoras’ theorem but about life.
 
Get curious about their experiences with these 10 thoughtful questions:
 
  1. What’s the most important lesson high school taught you?
  2. How has high school prepared you for the real world?
  3. What values have you gained during high school?
  4. How do you think high school experiences will shape your future?
  5. What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had told you when you were a freshman?
  6. How have your goals changed throughout high school?
  7. What mistake turned into a valuable lesson?
  8. How has failure helped you grow?
  9. What does success in high school look like to you?
  10. What are you most proud of achieving during your high school years?

 

Bottom Line

 
There you have it, a treasure trove of questions to ask the wise old seniors at your school.
 
Their answers can offer you a map to navigate your own high school journey, whether it's about acing that college application, balancing chemistry homework with soccer practice, or just making the most of your high school years.
 
So next time you see a senior, don’t be shy, ask away and soak up all the wisdom you can before they graduate and take all their secrets with them to college!