Tips to Stress Less about Applying to College

Preparing for the next chapter of your or your child’s life is exciting, but at the same time balancing deadlines, big decisions, others’ expectations, and just waiting for answers can be a significant source of stress. So whether you are a high school student worried about navigating the college admissions process or a parent wondering how to be supportive without adding more pressure, learn more about how to stress less about applying to college by following the following tips.

1. Allow yourself time to explore. A significant source of stress during the college application process is managing the expectations and pressures coming from anyone from your grandma to your coach. Before making any big decisions, reflect on your needs and dreams. Take advantage of online research tools, college fairs, college visits, and social media to narrow down your checklist of must-haves. Get started as soon as sophomore year, so you can begin to curate a transcript and activities list that matches your goals. Just remember that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. Part of the process of exploration is figuring out what is the best fit for you, so keep in mind that your objective is to try anything that interests you as you gradually zero in on your passions.
2. Get organized with a college application calendar. When it comes to applying for college, knowing what to do and when to do it is probably one of the hardest tasks for parents and students. Start with identifying the major tasks and the best times to complete them, such as career exploration, creating a college list, college visits and fairs, creating activities lists, preparing and taking the SAT or ACT, signing up for application portals like the Common Application or Coalition Application, requesting letters of recommendation, filling out applications on the apps, researching scholarships, putting together portfolios and preparing for auditions, writing essays, sending transcripts and test scores, submitting your FAFSA, and submitting your applications. Track deadlines on calendars and spreadsheets, but also set aside time in your schedule to complete tasks.
3. Resist the urge to procrastinate. Rushing to do anything, let alone something as important as applying to college, is a recipe for disaster. If you’re applying Early Action, for example, most deadlines for applications land somewhere between October and November, which means ideally you should start filling out your applications online and writing your essays the summer before senior year. Completing applications on time is even harder if you still haven’t nailed down your college list, so begin the process of exploring careers and colleges as early as the end of freshman year to give you time to weigh your options and guide your choices of classes and activities.
4. Seek out support. Applying to college can be challenging, especially if you try to do it by yourself. Fortunately, there are people and resources available to make things easier. Start with your school counselor who can help you with creating a college list, putting together your applications, identifying scholarships, and choosing courses that will impress on your high school transcripts. If you can afford it, test prep tutoring can help you ace your SAT or ACT exams and admissions consultants offer additional personalized support. Learn more about working with a consultant in this interview with Laura Muzzi Brennan of College Composed. If the prospect of applying to college feels like too much sometimes, remember your friends are going through the same thing, so consider meeting up to work on applications and provide each other support. As always, parents and teachers are there for you, too. 
5. Get some perspective. So much of what makes applying to college so stressful comes from managing expectations: the ones others impose on you and the ones that you place on yourself. There’s nothing wrong with having some highly competitive schools on your college list, for example. Just make sure you’re applying for reasons other than prestige or name recognition. The most important thing is to choose schools that are the best fit for you. Likewise, parents and relatives want the best for you, but sometimes that love and concern can feel more like nagging or criticism, so it’s important for both parents and teens to set boundaries (e.g. agree on a rule that college talk is banned at meal times).
6. Focus on authenticity. It’s nearly impossible to avoid stressing over what admissions committees are looking for in the perfect candidate for admission. At the same time, you’re also trying to follow advice that emphasizes being unique. That conflict between standing out and meeting a gold standard can be overwhelming. While you can’t put all of that to the side, there are some ways to get through it. One thing you can do is capitalize on any opportunity to be authentic and vulnerable in your application, such as essays or portfolios. Help admissions committees see life through your eyes, and they will connect with you. 
7. Take a break. Applying to college is a lot of work, particularly during the fall of senior year. You have to juggle writing essays, filling out the FAFSA, and securing letters of recommendation with classes, activities, and a social life. The pressure to get everything done and done to a high standard is real, so don’t let burnout get in the way. Set aside time every week to recharge and get some perspective. Try talking to someone, meditation, journaling, exercise, and getting at least eight hours of sleep every night.
8. Reflect on the positives. Applying to college is going to be challenging, but it’s a challenge that will make you stronger and forge your identity. As you’re creating your college list or writing your application essays, you are looking inward and looking back in a way that gives shape and meaning to your interests and experiences, reflecting on one chapter of your life before starting another.

How A+ Can Help

Stressing out about applying to college is normal. Competition for spots is intense and there’s no way to know how to precisely match the institutional needs and preferences of admissions committees. One way to lighten the load is to focus on the aspects of the college admissions process that you can control, such as test scores, essays, and starting with a balanced college list. At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, we offer SAT and ACT tutoring, College Admission Coaching services, and College Essay and Editing Services. Let us be a partner on your college admissions journey!

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, contact us here.