The Early Bird Catches the...Less Stress

As I near the end of the college application season with my current students, I am reminded time and again that the earlier you start this process, the easier it is on the student. And the family. And the teachers. And the guidance counselors. Depending on the schools on your list, you could be facing multiple different essays of various sizes, along with a slew of short answer prompts. You can’t shrug off any of these, or devote less attention. They all count and all contribute to putting forth your best efforts to gain admission at your dream school.

If the process drags out over months, and you are still trying to fill in applications after the new year, you will noticeably slow down and it can feel like a slog through mud. At the beginning of the process, when applications go live in August, students are nervous and excited. As I work with them, they are ready to GET IT DONE. Then school starts. Their lives get busy with school and special moments for seniors (and maybe a little senioritis). As the months go by, it’s hard to keep that same enthusiasm and motivation for each application and I will notice that the quality of essays starts to decline, which leads to more time spent by the student to get them right. They realize they might also be facing scholarship applications that require even more work. It can start to feel endless.

My advice: the more you can get done early, the happier and more relaxed you will be as you enter the second half of your senior year. Allow yourself to enjoy these final moments of high school and relish the choices you will have as the admission decisions roll in!