College applications are... easy

From K-12, my teachers, parents, counselors and peers have all worked the idea into my head that college was the end goal. The final destination. All of my work from elementary through high school was with the main purpose of applying to college, right? But, as I now sit as a high school senior writing my college applications, it feels like I am still waiting for the stress and anxiety that was promised for me as I began my application process. In fact, the whole college admissions process has been a breeze. The writing of supplemental questions and personal essays has not been harder than the simple english assignment. 

  It’s true, when I press the submit button to a college application I do feel a small sense of relief, but it is no amount of relief that I was worked up by outside pressures to be feeling. Yes, the college application process contains lots of writing and time management to be successful, but once you figure out your schedule, it is quite doable. 

With the support of my counselors and the other people around me going through the same thing, this process has felt extremely normal. In my perspective, the writing process has been over-exaggerated by everyone around me. I grew up in anxious anticipation of having to write mounds of essays and other paperwork from the application process, but now that I am here, there is no reason to fret. The pressure from outside voices has made the whole process seem near impossible, but students like Isabella Garcia (’24) have also found that the process has been manageable. 

“I would say it’s the same thing [college applications] or less difficult than I expected it to be. Getting through it with my college counselors was fine but for the most part I did it by myself. The writing portion was exactly how I thought it was going to be, when I actually sat down to write them [college applications] I feel like it flowed out easier than I thought it would.” Garcia said. 

I was told from previous seniors that it is optimal to start the college process during my junior year, or the summer going into senior year. However, as a senior that started my college applications in September, I have never been stressed about a deadline or had to worry about rushing my work. 

The college application process really just goes down to time management. If you properly space out your work and don’t wait until the last minute, I have no doubt that the application process will be a breeze. 

I can understand the importance of dedication to your college applications as they determine the rest of your academic career, but in reality, it is manageable to dedicate hard work and time without it becoming stressful. 

Art by Audrey Strauss