Breathe in.
Breathe out.
It will be okay.
This is an incredibly difficult part of your high school journey. You’re being forced to sit down, confront your story, and then lay it all out for a college admissions officer that you’ve never met to read. Not to mention, your social media will be flooded with “How-To Guides” and applicants that flaunt impossible stats. So, here are my tips, as a current high school senior, to protect your mental health throughout the application process.
Reframe Rejections
It is incredibly likely that you will get rejected. Don’t think of it as a quantification of value. Rather, try to remember that the university is looking out for you. If they don’t think you could thrive at their school, they won’t let you in. In a way, rejections are a way to ensure that you go to a school you would actually be happy at. At the same time, it’s okay to grieve the loss of that potential experience. Just don’t let a rejection define you.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
There will always be someone who has done more. There will also always be someone who wants to tell you their accomplishments, even at the expense of your feelings. My advice? Be happy for them, but don’t let yourself fall into a spiral of comparisons. You have done enough, and you are valid in your own right. If you notice your social media has become flooded with triggering videos, delete the app and redownload when you’re in the right headspace. Learn to focus on yourself and to be proud of who you’ve become.
Prevention is Key
Start early. You won’t be stressed about writing that final essay on October 31st if you finished it way back in August. If you have one, talk to your college counselor to make a plan for you to follow. Deadlines, even if they’re fake, genuinely succeed at motivating you. What worked for me was to have my personal statement and activities list/descriptions done before August 1st, so that I’d only have to worry about supplemental essays. Try to write for just 30 minutes every day to keep yourself accountable and your motivation high.
Waiting? For What?
Part of the difficulty of the college admissions process is the waiting. Really, it goes on. And on. And on. Months will pass before you hear from colleges that hold the applications you spent hours of time on. Once you hit that submit button, try to forget about it. There is nothing you can do from that point on, so let go of all that stress. You deserve it. Live without that burden on your shoulders, and you’ll be happier for it. You’re not waiting, you’re living.
Protect Your Peace
Everyone, and I mean everyone, will be asking about your college applications. It’s practically inescapable. If you feel willing to speak about it, feel free to. If you don’t, don’t be scared to set that boundary. You can set a safeword with your family/friends to signal when it gets too much and to change the subject. My family’s is “safezone,” and it’s been my saving grace throughout the past year. If you can, load a couple clichés to say when people start to ask about it. For example, sayings like “I’m just trusting the process,” or “I’m excited for this new stage of my life,” will be helpful to encourage a change of topic.
This Is It.
You don’t have to apply to college: you get to. Applying to colleges is probably the last big thing you will do senior year. Enjoy the ride and be grateful for it. Try not to let it overshadow your social life or your willingness to actually enjoy life.
