College Application Completion

As the month comes to a close and the deadline for early application inches closer, many high school seniors can see the light at the end of the tunnel. These students have a clear idea of where they would like to go to college and are ready to commit to their top school.

For some, the world of standardized tests, essay edits, and guidance counselor recommendations is coming to end, and I cannot honestly say that I will miss it. The process is tedious, complicated and time consuming. But don’t get too depressed, there are ways to navigate this stressful stage.

Time management, perseverance, and a little help from an English teacher are just some of the tools that will help guide one through this procedure. I asked some of my peers who are at the tail end of their apps to weigh in and give the advice that they wish they had known as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Anabella Berti: “Applying to college can be a stressful and tense time. You won’t be able to gauge the amount of work until you start but don't worry. If you start early you'll have enough time to plan out your essays and resumes. This will take off some of the strain that comes with trying to make a deadline. As soon as you have an idea of where you would like to go, start your essays. These are the most taxing, and once you have these done you are almost halfway there. Good luck!”

Hersh Bootin: “When you begin the application process, finish it. Don't start on your essay and procrastinate finishing it. You will lose your train of thought and the end result will not be as good. Get everything done as soon as possible so that you have time to edit and make it the best it can be."

Shirley Lipski: "Challenge yourself and stay focused on your studies because in the long run that is what matters the most. Colleges look at your transcript not only for consistently good grades, but for improvement as well, so don't worry if, at first, your grades seem mediocre. If you work hard and concentrate on school work, you will go far. Just remember that your future is your responsibility, not your friends or your teachers.”

Salvador Bentolila: “I moved here from Venezuela in my sophomore year and did not have any idea how the American college process worked. I think, for me, this was the most stressful aspect. It is really important that you know how everything operates, from testing to the applications. There are a lot of little parts that are easy to miss. Sit down with your college guidance counselor and go over every step of the application. Make a checklist to be sure that you don’t forget anything.”