How to manage stress during the College Application Process
Join as we discuss four ways on how a student can be less stressed during this process.
The College Admissions Process
The college admissions process is just around the corner. Students entering their Senior year of high school have mountains of pressure on them to create an impactful and memorable application. They are already dealing with getting good grades, college entrance exams, and extracurricular activities. It can often feel like students are running a marathon without taking any breaks. Students often find themselves balancing between working diligently on their materials and their own mental health. Join us as we discuss four ways how a student can be less stressed during the college application process.
How can students manage stress during the college application process?
As a student, are you ready to take that journey through the college application process? Wait -- relax, take a deep breath. You can help yourself get through this tedious process. When you look back on this journey, you will probably laugh and remember how much you learned from this.
1. Choose Multiple Colleges
Many students have their eyes set on a particular college that they've been dreaming of. However, one day you may notice their qualifications may be out of reach for your current experiences. Disappointment is a likely outcome of this epiphany. Relax. There were 3,982 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. as of the 2019-2020 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. It’s not the end of the world as you there are bound to be great school matches for any type of student. You should research and visit different colleges that can fit YOUR criteria. Every student needs to focus on their qualifications, skill sets, characteristics, and personal experiences to find a school that matches them.
2. Always maintain relationships with family and friends
A senior in high school can be so focused on reaching their college dreams they forget they need to REST. Without rest, one will feel exhausted and burnt out. Take some time out of your day to watch a movie, spend time with friends, and enjoy activities at your school. You should still enjoy life during hectic moments. These moments won’t last forever!
3. Never compare yourself to other students
We're all guilty of being happy for a colleague that got something we wanted but then felt some jealousy. Never compare yourself to other people! You will be competing against yourself and that person, so you will be burning both ends of the candle. If you did not get a perfect score on your SAT, don't put your head down. As long as you did your best and got a decent score, you should be proud of yourself. There will always be another student with a better score, essay, and/or resume. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, "being yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Run your own race, and don't let anything put you down.
4. Build a support group
No matter the number of demands for high school upperclassmen, students should find support and allies within their community who can provide trusted feedback. Your parents, friends, and immediate family members are great to start with but may not have much experience editing essays or reviewing or reviewing the thousands of schools students could apply to. Don't be afraid to ask your guidance counselor for advice on your college list, the application process, or simply look over your essays. Unfortunately, across high schools, the average student-to-school-counselor ratio is 311 students to 1. Only 1 in 5 high school students are enrolled in a school where there is a sufficient amount of school counselors. Thus, you may also choose to hire a college consultant who can dedicate themselves to your student. You don’t have to go through this journey alone!
Students should be excited about the next chapter in their life if they decide on going to college. However, getting there can be a challenging experience. Students should be proud of their accomplishments, enjoy the little things, and find support from their community. We hope following these tips will make the college application process journey a bit less stressful.
