Do not be afraid to look for jobs while in the early stages of your senior year. I started looking in my junior year and still did not get a concrete offer I was happy with until April of my senior year. But because I started looking early, I actually had choices when it came down to deciding on which career I tried to pursue. In conclusion, all I can say is it's never too early to look. It also feels great when you are in your last couple of months in you senior year and you do not have to worry about what you will be doing when you graduate.
Internships are the key to getting a job.
Classwork and GPA are nice, but employers are looking for concrete practical experience. Also, in interviews don't schmoze and say what you think the interviewer wants to hear. The sooner you start planning what you are going to do after Bates, the easier the transition to the real world will be. There is nothing worse than having no direction at the time of graduation - in terms of self esteem, career etc. Most of all - be persistent and flexible.