COLLEGEdata
Log In / Sign Up
Home > College Buzz > Newsletters > COLLEGEword
college buzz
COLLEGEword NEWSLETTER
Select an Issue:
Subscribe:
 
COLLEGEword
Expert advice from real admissions officers and college counselors
Issue #16
 
Got the College Application Blues?
BACKGROUND
Wondering how to get through the college application process without going crazy? Some tried-and-true coping strategies might come in handy right about now. If you are a senior, you are probably still facing a pile of college to-do tasks. Not to speak of the anxiety of wondering if you will or won't get in. If you're a junior, there are college lists to build, the SAT and ACT to prep for, and college visits to plan. And whether you are a junior or senior, you need to continue to earn outstanding grades! If this sounds all too familiar, it's no wonder you are bleary eyed and a little cranky. So how do you maintain your sanity, put the process into perspective, and find your path?
 
THE QUESTION
How can students reduce college application stress?
 
WORD FROM THE EXPERTS
COLLEGEword
First of all, breathe! With some planning and introspection, you will find one or more colleges or universities suiting your personality and interests. Make an appointment with your guidance counselor and/or an admissions representative at a college of interest. Discuss your academic background, your goals, and your interests. Ask about deadlines of which you need to be aware. Finally, make a plan and put everything on a checklist so you can keep track of testing dates, application and scholarship deadlines, financial aid dates, and visit dates. Planning is your best preparation. Good luck!
 COLLEGEword
Gretchen Gravely Tucker
Director of Admissions
Sweet Briar, VA
 
COLLEGEword
Here are a few pointers to help you deal with application stress:
bullet Set up a day and time only once a week to talk about college issues with your parents.
bullet Follow your counselor's advice.
bullet Apply to realistic safety schools, meaning ones you are really likely to get into.
bullet Have an open discussion with your parents about paying for college.
bullet Don't set your heart on one dream school; you'll either be disappointed when you do not get in or you might be disappointed when you get there.
bullet Make time for yourself. Do things that have NO effect on college admissions.
bullet More is not better! Involve yourself only in things that you love and are passionate about.
bullet Talk to others about your essays. Bounce ideas off them. Ask them to read your drafts.
COLLEGEword
Scott White
Director of Guidance
Montclair High School
Montclair, NJ
 
COLLEGEword
Sit down with an adult you respect and trust, like your parents, a guidance counselor, or another mentor in your life. Make realistic goals with them about how many colleges you want to apply to and which ones, but don't go overboard. Finally, make a master checklist of the deadlines and requirements for your various applications, so you can track your progress in one place. This will help ensure you don't miss a step, so you can be fully considered at each college on your list.
COLLEGEword
James Smith
Director of Admission
Mount Vernon, OH
 
COLLEGEword
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the application process, especially because choosing a college is such a big decision. Reflect on your learning style, social style, and preferences, then make a list of characteristics that describe your ideal school. If you know what you're looking for in a college, you can more easily evaluate how well colleges match your ideal. Create a form to complete for each college that will help you keep track of how well the college meets your needs. Then you can compare apples to apples.
Organizing information and time will save you grief in the end. If your parents want to help, ask them to input important deadlines in a master calendar for you. They can also register you for testing, request your test scores be sent to colleges, and apply for the PIN#s necessary for filing the FAFSA.
 COLLEGEword
Julia Surtshin
Certified Educational Planner
Surtshin College Counseling
Portland, OR
 
COLLEGEword
The college application process is daunting, and added to senior year classes, seniors are stressed and stretched to the max. A few suggestions for seniors (and juniors looking ahead): get organized, make lists of what colleges require, and put important dates on a calendar. Some kids make Excel spreadsheets while others use a large wall calendar with all the important dates. Prioritize your applications by nearest deadlines and your top-choice schools. Block out time slots on weekends to work on essays, personal statements, and application supplements. Students may even need to schedule time for homework and study if this is not already a part of their routine.
If you need help dealing with parents, I suggest scheduling a regular meeting once a week to go over what needs to be done so that parents won't feel the need to nag every day. Once parents see that you are on top of everything, hopefully they will feel relieved and back off.
 COLLEGEword
Lois Halls
Head Counselor
Miramonte High School
Orinda, CA
 
THE LAST WORD
Stressing over the college application process is both understandable and expected. Most college-bound students go through it — and then put all that stress behind them as they head off to college. This may be of small comfort to you now, but in less time than you can imagine, you will be one of those students. So get a clear idea of what you are looking for in a college, get organized, and get some time to relax. A happy ending is in the works.
bottom rule
 
 
 
What's New at COLLEGEdata?
Get Trackin'
We've added new filters to the Admissions Tracker so now you can see who got in at any college by gender, high school type, and residency — in addition to decision type and applicant type. Are you a male, legacy, regular-decision applicant who attended parochial high school in-state? Add your Profile today and see how you compare to other applicants like you!
 
We'll help you stay on track for college while you're on Facebook. Become a fan!
 
Books on COLLEGEdata
Looking for the best books on surviving college admission stress? Check out the COLLEGEdata Bookstore!
 
YOUR WORD
How can students reduce college application stress? Join the discussion.
 
Contribute to COLLEGEword
Share your expertise!
If you are a college counselor or admissions officer interested in joining the COLLEGEword panel, contact us.
 
About COLLEGEword
Advice provided in COLLEGEword reflects the views of the individual admissions officers and college counselors offering the advice. Information in this newsletter is of a general nature. It is provided for educational purposes only and may not apply to you or your situation.