Killer College Applications

It’s College Application season for our seniors, and the stress is on. Early applications are due by November 1, but some colleges may require them earlier. A college application will generally require students to submit 1-2 essays (depending on the college), a teacher and/or counselor recommendation, ACT/SAT scores, and an official high school transcript. If you’re a procrastinator, now would be the time to STOP procrastinating and get started on your applications! There are only 18 more days to complete them! Many teachers are willing to help you finish them, and many more would be happy to write you letters of recommendation. Getting started on college applications early is a good idea since homework, jobs, and other extracurricular activities may hinder your progress, creating more stress in your life. Mia Wolfe, a senior, said that she is stressed by the “many essays that she has to write and loose ends” that she needs to think about. When questioned, Mia stated that she combats her stress by “writing lists.” Here are our recommendations to help reduce your stress during this tense process:

• Take a bath/shower to clear your mind
• Take a short walk
• Listen to music
• Meditate
• Take short breaks in between long work periods
• Take small power naps

Sometimes motivation can also be a problem. College applications take time to finish, and the essays are tedious. If faced with loss of motivation, here are some things that could help:

• Incentivize yourself

  • For every hour that you work, you can watch 10 minutes of your favorite TV show before bed.
  • After every 30 minute interval of working, you can eat a small piece of chocolate.
  • After completing an essay, you can take a 10 minute break.

• Work with friends

  • Often times working on college applications with friends can help you stay motivated and on track.
  • Your friends can act as an extra set of proofreaders before you submit your essays.

• Set reachable goals

  • Work on 1 hour of homework, 1 hour of college applications and then go to bed.
  • Get done with one rough draft of an essay during study hall.

College applications can sometimes require information that you may not know. In that case, your counselors would be happy to answer any questions you have. It’s always better to complete some of your applications early, but if you forget or don’t get done in time, don’t fret; regular application due dates start January 1st, and that’s quite some time away.

Early applications for most colleges are due less than a month away on November 1. These applications usually consist of one or two college essays - depending on the college - a letter of recommendation, and a recorded history of academic excellence. If you're a procrastinator, like a lot of people, the amount of work that needs to be done, such as homework, unfinished class work, extracurriculars, and even having a social life may be tiresome and stressful. If too overwhelmed, facing stress could cause more harm than do good.