The sentiments of senior Tess Kelly have been echoed in many schools throughout the nation.
“College application season sucks,” she said.
For many seniors, fall is not just a time for pumpkin spice, pretty leaves, and Friday night lights games. It is a time for deadlines, essays, and big life decisions. It’s no secret that applying to colleges can be a frustrating and overwhelming time for many students.
“It’s hard to avoid the constant mental reminder of the college application process. No matter how much you’re trying to de-stress, it’s sort of always looming and present,” senior Casper Stockman said.
From writing essays to trying to choose the “right” schools, the fall months seem like nonstop work and stress. However, for some students, the stress doesn’t come from the workload alone, but also from the constant comparison to those around them. Even casual conversations with friends can now lead to stressful reminders of college.
“A lot of my friends in math class [used to be], ‘Oh, what grade did you get?’ But the common thing now is, ‘What colleges are you applying to?’” Kelly said.
To cope with the pressure, many students are finding different ways to manage their stress.
“I’m doing my applications one at a time, and I have a calendar with a set of deadlines that I set for myself for when to get them done,” Stockman said.
In addition to breaking down the never-ending list of tasks into more manageable deadlines, spending time with friends and family and having hobbies outside of school can help maintain balance in stressful times.
“I spend time with my family and do other fun hobbies, because in addition to doing my college stuff, I feel like what helps is just destressing,” senior Elizabeth Mboowa said.
The balance between work and fun is extremely important, not only for mental health, but also to ensure that there is time to make the most of the last year of high school.
“[Enjoy] your extracurriculars and [put] more of yourself out there because it’s your senior year. Try all the things that not only your school community has, but also your neighborhood has; try to enjoy it before you leave,” Mboowa said.
Each student has different strategies that help the most with managing their stress, from leaning on schedules and support systems to focusing on getting enough sleep and finding creative outlets.
As stressful as the process can be, there are so many ways to manage it. In the end, after writing the essays and filling out applications, the most important thing to do is take a step back and breathe.
“Just do your best, and things will work out,” Mboowa said.
