Commitments cause a second round of college stress

By: Ollie McCall

Once a year, many seniors across the country face one of the biggest challenges of their high school career: filling out their college applications.

Between the essays and the amount of raw data required, many students have a difficult time balancing school and working on their applications.

“Actually filling out the application was the most stressful part,” senior Noela DeFrenza said. “Not only are you applying to college, you are a first-semester senior doing all your APs, you still have extracurriculars, and maybe you’re working.”

Applications tend to be one of the most discussed stressors of senior year. However, some are surprised by the other parts of the process that put strains on applicants. One aspect of the college application process that is often overlooked is actually deciding where to attend after

college decisions come back.

“I’m nervous. I have a lot of great options, and I’ve gotten into two of my top choices… the biggest problem is that they’re both two conflicting lives with different majors,” senior Zade Hubbs said. “It really comes down to deciding how I want to spend my time, and I still haven’t really decided.”

The extensiveness of this problem leaves many students feeling blindsided, due to their

previous expectations when it comes to college stress as lying elsewhere.

Current juniors are approaching the start of their application season. Junior Disha Divakar has started to think about her applications, and views the essays as her biggest hurdle. 

“The idea of essays stresses me out in the sense that it is hard to think about picking a prompt and then putting everything you’ve done in your life and having that determine so much about you and who you are,” Divakar said.

This all too common aspect of college is one of the most anticipated stressors of the application process. The college process may seem nerve-racking, but due to the fact that seniors are currently dealing with this process, some are equipped to give out pieces of advice to help ease the stress.

“Don’t wait until the last day that the application is due to start writing your essays; make sure you’re on time and make sure to pay attention to the deadlines,” senior Holden Martinez said.

While students may be tired of hearing this constantly repeated, if students give themselves more time to write their essays instead of cramming them in the last minute, they will have an easier time with their college application.

“Don’t expect a lot, and don’t get too attached to any one college. Keep your options open and actually consider what you want out of college,” senior Varun Poojary said. “I can say I want strong academics in my preferred field and I want to study abroad. Find those factors and apply to colleges with those.”