It’s no secret that applying to college is stressful. From studying for the SAT and keeping your grades up, to figuring out How to Write a Unique College Essay, there are lots of things to focus on! Needless to say, college application season can feel overwhelming. Especially if you are a First-Generation College Student. Or have a hard time staying organized.
In this article, we will review how to manage college application stress by focusing on the importance of planning ahead, staying organized, and managing your expectations. We will also discuss what to do if you aren’t accepted into one of your top colleges. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry! There are lots of effective ways to manage college application stress.
Managing your expectations
While the desire to attend a top school is certainly understandable. It may be a bit misguided. Just because a school has a great reputation doesn’t mean it’ll be the best fit. You could be much happier at another school! This is why it’s important to include plenty of “target” and “safety” schools on your college application list.
Be thoughtful in your research. Try to choose schools that you would actually be happy to attend. Not only will this approach give you more options in the long run, but it’ll also help you feel more prepared and help manage your college application stress. And remember, lots of schools have incredible resources and opportunities — even if they aren’t considered top schools. So try not to be dissuaded by the terms “target” and “safety.” Although useful, these terms can have an unfair negative connotation.
Managing your expectations
Students often feel pressured to apply to top schools. But did you know that Harvard has an overall acceptance rate of 3%? And Brown University has an overall acceptance rate of 5%? Schools with acceptance rates below 20% take a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to get into. There are no guarantees! Even if you’re a top student.
While the desire to attend a top school is certainly understandable. It may be a bit misguided. Just because a school has a great reputation doesn’t mean it’ll be the best fit. You could be much happier at another school! This is why it’s important to include plenty of “target” and “safety” schools on your college application list.
Be thoughtful in your research. Try to choose schools that you would actually be happy to attend. Not only will this approach give you more options in the long run, but it’ll also help you feel more prepared and help manage your college application stress. And remember, lots of schools have incredible resources and opportunities — even if they aren’t considered top schools. So try not to be dissuaded by the terms “target” and “safety.” Although useful, these terms can have an unfair negative connotation.
Keeping track of important dates and deadlines
College applications require a lot of hard work, dedication, and research. They also require a lot of planning. This means keeping track of important dates and deadlines, such as SAT and ACT Test Dates for 2023-24 and other Important College Admissions Dates. Stress often becomes more intense if you’re not sure exactly what’s expected of you. This is why planning ahead is so important!
In order to manage your college application stress, keep a list of important dates and deadlines. The sooner you come up with this list, the better! Mark these dates on your calendar, along with reminders in the days and weeks leading up to them. That way, nothing will come as a surprise!
To help you get started, here are a couple of important college application dates to keep in mind:
5 Organizational tips to help you succeed
In addition to keeping track of important dates and deadlines, you’ll want to practice other organizational methods as well. Remember, there will be many times during your senior year when you will feel overwhelmed. One of the keys to dealing with stress is to remain organized!
1. Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
This will help you stay motivated and on-task. For example, if you’re working on your Personal Statement and are feeling overwhelmed, spend a day or two just brainstorming topics. Then spend another day reading Top College Essays from Top Schools and reflecting on why these examples were successful.
2. Use plenty of folders!
In addition to using physical folders to help keep your college application materials organized, you’ll want to keep folders on your computer as well. Additionally, you’ll want to go ahead and bookmark relevant websites, such as Common App, FAFSA, and different college websites.
3. Have a study plan for the SAT/ACT.
If you’re planning on taking the SAT and/or ACT you’ll need a study plan. Thankfully, there are lots of SAT study plans and schedule templates to choose from! If you suffer from test-taking anxiety, check out our article, How to Prepare for SAT or ACT Test Day.
4. Ask for your letters of recommendation early.
Waiting on other people to submit your college application materials can be very stressful. Especially if you asked a teacher who has a lot of other letters of recommendation to write. This is why it’s best to ask for your letters of recommendation sooner rather than later.
5. Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
Aim to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. Although the application isn’t technically due until June 30th, some schools and states have priority deadlines. Applying sooner rather than later may mean that you’ll be eligible for more financial aid, especially in the form of grants. For more information on the FAFSA, check out our article, Everything You Should Know About FAFSA.
Applying to test-optional colleges
Many students struggle with test anxiety. For some, this stress can be debilitating. If standardized tests are going to cause you an unreasonable amount of stress, you may want to consider applying to test-optional colleges. For a list of test-optional colleges, click here. And remember, there are plenty of great schools that are test-optional! Including Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia. So if applying to test-optional colleges is a personal priority, don’t worry, you aren’t necessarily limiting yourself.
What if you don’t get into your top colleges?
If come spring, you’re not happy with your college decisions, keep in mind that there are still lots of options for you moving forward! Maybe you should consider taking a gap year and reapplying to college next year. There are lots of amazing gap year opportunities out there! You could become an Au Pair, complete an internship, ride your bike across the country, sign up for Sea|mester, or volunteer through Americorps. The opportunities are limitless! And often adventurous!
If you’re set on attending college come fall, but aren’t happy with any of your options, you can still apply to schools with rolling admissions. For more information on rolling admissions, check out our article, What Is Rolling Admission? How It Works and When To Apply. And if there’s a school you could see yourself going to come fall, keep in mind that you can always transfer colleges. Especially if you’re still set on attending your dream school. So try not to stress too much. There are plenty of options available to you, no matter what your situation may be!
What if you don’t get into your top colleges?
One of the key sources of college application stress is worrying about what to do if you aren’t accepted into one of your top colleges. This is why it’s important to manage your expectations and plan ahead. But even if things don’t go according to plan, don’t worry!
If come spring, you’re not happy with your college decisions, keep in mind that there are still lots of options for you moving forward! Maybe you should consider taking a gap year and reapplying to college next year. There are lots of amazing gap year opportunities out there! You could become an Au Pair, complete an internship, ride your bike across the country, sign up for Sea|mester, or volunteer through Americorps. The opportunities are limitless! And often adventurous!
If you’re set on attending college come fall, but aren’t happy with any of your options, you can still apply to schools with rolling admissions. For more information on rolling admissions, check out our article, What Is Rolling Admission? How It Works and When To Apply. And if there’s a school you could see yourself going to come fall, keep in mind that you can always transfer colleges. Especially if you’re still set on attending your dream school. So try not to stress too much. There are plenty of options available to you, no matter what your situation may be!
Key takeaways and moving forward
If you’re feeling particularly stressed this college application season, remember, you aren’t alone! Lots of people are going through what you’re going through. And even more people have already gone through it! So don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is plenty of advice out there about how to deal with stress effectively.
Whether you need help writing your “Why This College” Essay or are wondering, What Is Regular Decision?, just remember, there are lots of people who can help you! Your teachers, high school guidance counselor, coaches, mentors, family members, friends, etc. And if you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, consider reaching out to learn more about our college counseling programs.
In the meantime, for more guidance, check out our article, Applying to Multiple Colleges: Tips to Stay Organized and Meet Deadlines.
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