Complete senior requirements

Complete Senior Requirements

Overview

Before you graduate, verify you've completed every graduation requirement. Sounds obvious, but students slip through cracks: missing 1-2 elective credits, incomplete community service hours, or unfiled senior project paperwork. Get in front of this now. It takes 30 minutes to verify everything; fixing problems on graduation day takes hours and heartbreak.

Action Steps

1. Audit Your Credits

   • Request a degree audit from your school counselor (or pull it yourself from student portal)
   • Count total credits earned: compare to graduation requirement (usually 120-130)
   • Check you've met specific requirements: 4 years English, 3-4 years math, science, social studies, foreign language
   • Note any gaps and the timeline to close them (summer school? Independent study?)

2. Verify Core Classes

   • English: 4 years complete? Senior seminar done?
   • Math: Through Algebra II minimum? (Or higher based on track)
   • Science: Lab science included?
   • Social Studies: US History + electives?
   • Foreign Language: 2-3 years?
   • Physical Education/Health: Completed?
   • Electives: You have 3-5 free slots to fill with interest-based courses

3. Check Community Service Hours

   • Total hours required: usually 20-50
   • Hours completed: tally from Solyo Dashboard or service log
   • Where to finish hours: food bank, tutoring younger students, beach cleanup
   • Deadline: usually must be completed by graduation (May)
   • Pro tip: Spread service across year; don't cram 40 hours in April

4. Senior Project/Capstone Status

   • Many schools require a senior project (research paper, presentation, portfolio)
   • Check completion status with your project advisor
   • If not started: START NOW (students who procrastinate bomb these)
   • Timeline: Research → Outline → Draft → Feedback → Final submission
   • Document everything in Solyo for tracking

5. Special Requirements (If Applicable)

   • Honors diploma requirements? (Extra GPA or courses?)
   • STEM certification or pathway completion?
   • Attendance requirements? (Missing too many days = no diploma)
   • Financial obligations? (Unpaid library fines, lost textbook fees?)

6. Schedule Counselor Verification Meeting

   • Meet with your counselor 2-3 weeks before graduation
   • Bring a printed degree audit
   • Confirm you're cleared to graduate
   • Ask for final transcript order confirmation (will be sent to your college)

Pro Tips

• Most schools have a "graduation clearance" checklist you can self-verify; use it
• If you're 1-2 credits short, summer school at a community college (credits transfer)
• If you're missing service hours, organized programs add 10-20 hours fast (one weekend at an animal shelter = 8 hours)

Key Dates

• Graduation clearance deadline: Usually 4 weeks before graduation
• Final chance for service hours: Usually 1-2 weeks before graduation
• Senior projects due: Varies; check your school's deadline immediately