As countless students that we have talked to have testified, the most important words of advice regarding the application process are: START EARLY. Secondly, it is essential that you allow yourself to see the big picture. This will grant you the gifts of perspective and balance.
Nothing spells stress like a last-minute surprise: "You mean I needed three teacher recommendations?!" We can avoid such "surprises" [read: regrettable accidents of ignorance], if we stay organized, are realistic about what lies ahead and are aware of details and deadlines (keep in mind these deadlines approach quickly if you are considering applying early decision or early action to a school). When we anticipate senior year, we sometimes fail to recognize that the multi-faceted ordeal of applying for college must be accomplished in addition to a full course load. Although teachers may cover material that is relevant to standardized tests (drills, practice tests) and the application process (writing essays), ultimately, your college search is a personal project. Participation and success in challenging academic classes during senior year is highly valued by colleges and should remain your top priority.
The final year of your high school education is also a tumultuous time for emotions. In many aspects, you're on top of the world, but you can see the end of an era, and it's not too far off. There are many issues you may be dealing with that are quite un-academic in nature, such as the anticipation of leaving close family and friends. Remember too that you may have many "roles" in your life -- a student, an athlete, a leader, and a friend. While you may have a goals you want to accomplish for each of those areas, you will still need to allow yourself some breathing space. Try not to make your motto 'I work best under pressure.'
For many of us, organization does not come easily. To minimize stress, you really must force yourself to develop a systematic approach before madness ensues. We've built a tool that caters to the needs of even the most disorganized students: My Review (you can find this on nearly every page of the site -- it's in the left column, under the Princeton Review logo). My Review helps you keep track of your schools, your applications, finanical aid information and more. We suggest you check out My Review and start using it as early as possible.
Some students may already have strong convictions about their top choice schools as senior year begins, while many others are still shopping around. Don't waste your time waiting for the school of your dreams to come and recruit you. Continue to research schools, taking notes on which schools you think would be best for you and why.
If at all possible, try to visit each school to which you are planning to apply. Go while school is in session so you can see the students and the campus in full swing. This is key in determining whether you and the school are a strong match: a positive visit can help you to narrow your focus. On the other hand, a visit to a school can quickly eliminate it as an option if it turns you off, and saving you time and money should you choose not to apply.
Once you've ranked schools in terms of your preferences and chances of getting in, it will become clearer where your priorities should lie. A good rule of thumb is to limit the number of schools to which you are applying to the single digits. The more schools you're applying to, the more complicated your time management challenges will become.
A huge stress factor of senior year is trying to beef up activities lists. Take a deep breath and try to view this topic logically. Admission officers want to see that you are a go-getter, but understand that it is not possible to do everything at once. Eyebrows will likely be raised if suddenly during senior year, a student has taken on an onslaught of activities. Heed the advice of parents and friends who warn you not to spread yourself too thin. Save some energy by participating in those few sports, organizations, or clubs that you are passionate about and may excel in instead of joining some random club whose meetings leave you napping on the desk. If there are no clubs that suit your interests, speak to your class advisor about starting one.
Keep in mind that community service, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and classes taken outside of school are also valid activities. Don't feel that you have to sacrifice your amazing volunteer job saving endangered species to join the training-to-be-a-leader club. On the other hand, don't feel pressured to volunteer for the sake of your college app if you simply cannot afford it. You'll make the best impression on admissions officers if you can be articulate about your interests and skills and demonstrate that you are ambitiously making use of them.
If you really feel that you can handle two million commitments, no one will likely stop you. Just anticipate the college admissions process to be a huge extracurricular commitment in and of itself.
…is what a teacher will not likely be doing if you ask them to write a recommendation letter that is due in the mail tomorrow. This is one aspect of the college application that can easily slip your mind. Be sure to ask your teachers (or friends, if applicable, for peer recommendations) for recommendation letters well in advance - even a few months in advance, if possible. This rule applies to any scenario where another person is helping you with an aspect of the application process: you must budget in the time it will take for them to do their part. This may seem like a redundant thing to consider, but students during this period notoriously overlook such folds in the timeline.
The college essay is your opportunity to let your personality be known to admissions officers. Don't give them a window into your delirious haven't-slept-in-days persona by putting this off. The stroke of genius you are waiting for will not likely come to you in one sitting, so allow plenty of time for re-writing and editing, alone and with the help of others.
Financial aid will seem comparable to brain surgery for many seniors. The good news is that your parents will likely assist with this aspect of application. Whether or not talk of finances makes you dizzy, it remains your duty to provide your parents with deadlines well in advance to avoid chaos. Private financial counselors are available and can reduce time-consumption and stress, but they also reduce the weight of your wallet. Scholarships can often be dealt with after the main wave of application insanity, but they require research and often their own application essays and interviews, the sooner you start preparing, the better. We can help you with financial aid. Just click the "Pay for School" button at the top of this page and you'll enter our financial center, which has a scholarship search, student loan resources and more.
There's nothing worse than having a to-do list that scrolls into the next decade. If you budget your time properly and stay calm, you will find yourself crossing one thing after another off that list. Keep in mind that maintaining a balance between school, college applications, home life, social life, etc., will maximize your efficiency, keeping your stress down and your spirits up. So go forth, stay organized and remember, procrastination is the enemy.
