As the school year begins, seniors start the college application process.While the process can determine the future for many students, it is understandable that it can affect their mental health. The term “senoritis” is commonly used to describe the effects of college application stress.
According to Global Academic Consultants, the average student takes 60 to 200 hours on the whole college application process, depending on which colleges require multiple essays, interviews, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations, extracurricular activities, a high school transcript and much more. What makes this process stressful is that most students apply to multiple colleges, all varying requirements. So, keeping track of, say, ten to fifteen colleges, and having ten to fifteen different sets of deadlines with different requirements, can be overwhelming, and academically challenging. All of this, on top of the current year’s schoolwork, can be a lot. Once all applications are in, then comes a new wave of stress. Seniors wait months to hear from colleges, and as the tension grows, so does the anxiety. Finally, once students hear from colleges, they have to make the weighted decision on where to accept.
Emma Dunne, a senior at the high school, also said that her and her peers are, especially when applying to more than one college, having a well planned system of deadlines is beneficial.
“I think everyone’s kind of going through it,” Dunne said. “Taking everything one step at a time and making sure everything is planned out so you know what’s due when. It is never too early to start, especially with your main essay and just trying to figure out a topic.”
Next, Elysee Cantino, a college counselor at the high school, talked about her understanding of the college application process and the effects it results with. Cantino has seen many students with questions about college. She has had her encounters with the effects this whole process may have, so she shares what she tells her students, to help them get through everything.
“Unofficially, all throughout high school” Cantino said. “Like everything you are doing, you are starting to build your resume, your classes, as soon as I mean even some of your middle school but particularly when you are in high school. All of those classes, all of those grades, the rigor, all of that is important and probably, one or the most important piece to the college application process is your transcript.”
Cantino has seen many students with questions about college. She has had her encounters with the effects this whole process may have, so she shares what she tells her students, to help them get through everything.
“As cliche as it is, take a deep breath, we’re going to get through it, college is just the beginning,” Cantino said. “Right when we start sharing and comparing ourselves to our peers and kind of getting that outside pressure, which turns to inside pressure right, that is stressful. So, you know not everybody feels that way but when they are, again just take that deep breath, take a step back and do this for you,” Cantino said.
Emilia Ege, another senior, is applying to both in and out of state schools. Ege does recognize the stress factor applications can bring, but she has figured out how to manage and stay on top of things.
“The most stressful part is balancing the workload with the applications and all the essays,” Ege said. “It has not affected my class participation but it does make it a lot more difficult to balance homework and turning in assignments sometimes.”
“I like balancing my time so taking breaks away from the college application and stuff helps relieve stress.” to make sure she is leveling school and the application process. Ege also makes sure she is still participating and keeping her grades up. “Grades are part of your transcript that is usually submitted to colleges, so it is important to maintain your grades in senior year,” said Ege.
“Just [make] sure you are balancing everything, not having everything being focused around college and applications,” Dunne said. “So just having time to still have fun with your friends.”
