How do you manage the stress of applying to college? “I don’t”, says Ellie Bear ’25, who’s applying to many competitive colleges.
Uh oh, not a good start. But the truth is, many of the class of 2025 feel a similar way. The pressure of deadlines and acceptance, as well as the rest of regular schoolwork is heavy, and many deal with it while also doing sports, extracurriculars, or a job.
This creates a mountain of work students have to get through. “It feels like I’m constantly moving, but I’m not going anywhere,” Bear admits.
Luckily there are some people who have seen it all when it comes to the college application season. Mrs. Fairchild, King’s college counselor, about handling the stress says, “set aside time specifically for college applications, and take advantage of vacation days.” Working on it a bit at a time will prove effective.
But applying is only the first part of this tumultuous journey. The wait for responses from college admissions can be another monster of stress. Many students have worked tirelessly to perfect their applications for their dream schools and would do anything to get an acceptance letter. The fear of rejection from top colleges is all too common.
But Mrs. Fairchild has another piece of advice for students like these, “If a school says no, it’s not a rejection letter, it’s a redirection letter.”
Who knows where life will direct us, but it’s important to remember that college is only one small part of it.