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Senior year gets busy quickly. Between classes, activities, work, sports, homecoming and college deadlines, it can feel like everything starts happening at once. That is why July is such a good time to take a few small steps before the school year begins. Here is what rising seniors can do in July before college application season begins.

For many working professionals, the path to graduate school doesn’t begin with a perfect roadmap. An advanced degree is a major investment of your time, energy, and finances. If you are trying to balance full-time work while thinking about graduate school, rushing into an application isn't the answer. Instead, use these five strategic steps to evaluate your readiness and find the right program for your career goals.

No Instagram post, no iPhone shot, no perfectly polished campus photo can fully do our beautiful, suburban campus justice. They give you a glimpse, but really, you just have to visit.

You have to smell the fresh-cut grass, grab a smoothie from Casey’s, and walk the paths where Siena’s campus meets the peaceful streets of Loudonville. You have to find your favorite study spot, picture yourself between classes, and kick back by the fire pits.

And when you do, be sure to scope out these spots below: a few of our students’ favorite places to study, unwind, and feel at home.

The campus visit: the single most important thing you can do in the college search process, and by far the most fun. You can learn a lot from a website, brochure or social media account, but nothing replaces actually stepping on campus. A visit helps you picture yourself there, ask real questions and get a feel for the community you could be joining. Over the years, we’ve shared plenty of campus visit advice. Here it is, all in one place.

Thinking about transferring colleges can bring up a lot of questions. Will my credits transfer? Will I be able to graduate on time? Will I fit in? Is it too late to make a change? At Siena, transfer students are an important part of our community, and there is still time to take the next step toward a college experience that feels right for you.

Two things we want you to know on this topic: 1) The value of having shops, eateries, and convenience stores within walking distance of your dorm cannot be underestimated. Even if you have access to public transportation or a car, being able to get places by foot too can seriously make campus life easier and so much more fun. (Also, the exercise = two thumbs up.)

Choosing a college is about more than choosing a place to take classes. It is about choosing the place where you will grow, find your people, discover new opportunities and start to see what your future could look like. For the Siena Class of 2026, that experience started early.

Picture this: You're starting senior year and everyone is talking about college applications. They'll be due in no time, and there's a lot to do.
But you—you're already DONE. Finished. Ready for a stress-free senior year.

If you are reading this, it likely means you have made one of the biggest decisions of your life so far: choosing where you will go to college. Take a moment to recognize everything you did to get here. You spent months researching schools, completing applications, writing essays, visiting campuses, and weighing your options. You met the May 1 College Decision Day deadline — and that is something to be proud of. Now that you have officially committed to your college, you might be wondering: what happens next? Here is what you can expect and how you can set yourself up for success in the coming months.

Thinking about a master's degree? Graduate school is an investment of your time, energy and resources, so it should feel like a step toward something meaningful. Whether you are hoping to advance in your current field, change direction, grow your skills or prepare for a new opportunity, the right graduate program should help you move forward with more clarity and confidence. Before you apply, here are a few questions that can help you decide what comes next.