Many seniors are currently working on their college applications while simultaneously juggling schoolwork and other extracurricular activities, leading to an increase in stress levels. According to Prep Scholar, a website for college application preparation, 76% of students feel stressed out during the college application process. Thus, it is important to know how to handle the process and reduce stress.
First and foremost, creating a list of schools you plan to apply to and your goals for your collegiate education is helpful.
Making a list of potential college fits can greatly reduce the anxiety of not knowing what you are working towards. Within the list, labeling the types of schools you are applying to, specifically, safeties, reaches, or matches, will organize your choices and give you a better idea of your options. Also, having a list of college goals categorized into academic, career, and job opportunities can help in making a better college list.
Many students set their heart on one dream school, but it is important to consider alternative schools. Oftentimes, students will overlook the broad array of colleges that offer similar opportunities to those offered at many prestigious and selective schools. Having different college options and therefore different paths reduces the pressure of getting into one dream college.
In addition, time management is a crucial aspect of handling stress when completing applications. This is especially important because of the heavy workload that comes with writing a number of various types of essays, including the University of California (UC) personal insight questions and supplemental essays for select schools. Cramming essays and applications close to deadlines is a primary reason for the high amounts of stress during this time, according to Prep Scholar.
Thus, creating a planned spreadsheet with deadlines and requirements is helpful. By visually laying out the work that needs to be completed, students can better manage their other school work, extracurricular activities, and applications, consequently leading to reduced stress.
Furthermore, asking for help, or collaborating with friends, family, or other outside sources can alleviate stress, compared to handling everything alone. This includes taking advantage of resources organized by the College and Career Center on campus, such as the UC Application workshops and college representative visits. For a lot of students, collaboration may seem even scarier than coping with pressure, as essays and other parts of the application can be personal. However, something as simple as having a friend read over one paragraph in your essay, or reaching out to older, experienced peers can lift some weight off your shoulders.
As for financial stress, students often do not look into the aid options many schools offer. Examples include a wide variety of scholarships which students can apply to. Websites such as Niche and The College Board’s scholarship search tool can assist in finding the opportunities fit for you. Additionally, many schools offer different types of financial aid; for instance, the UCs offer an often-overlooked fee waiver for up to four of their campuses when applying, along with need-based aid or merit-based scholarships for admission.
In addition, looking into pathways involving attending community college first to complete general credits and transferring to a four-year university can lift a lot of financial pressure. There are many different ways to reach your goals; it is important to remember that there is no one correct pathway.