Wall of colleges in Ms. Kipp’s college counseling office

Photo Credit: Caroline, 12th grade

Everyone knows the college process is stressful. What are the causes and how can 12th graders at GCDS help mitigate them?

Amongst the many factors that play into the application process, identifying what makes you as a student excel in and out of the classroom is essential to finding the right college for you. Mr. Ramirez, the director of college counseling stated, “The college process is one that really requires seniors to take stock of their strengths and what drives them as learners, what drives them socially and extra-curricularly. The college process really shapes or really focuses rather on those questions for each individual student. For us, it’s all about the fit.” Knowing what school is the best for your future and accomplishing your goals. 

So how do you know that the schools you are applying to are the best fit for you? 

Charlotte, a senior, stated “the college application process was stressful to me because it involved extreme self-introspection on a level that I had not done before. It made me really question who I am and what I want my future to be – something that feels daunting for a teenager to think about. What helped me during the process was reminding myself that everything happens for a reason and that I will end up where I am supposed to be.” If you can picture yourself at the schools you apply to, then you are one step closer to eliminating stress, as you are comfortable with where you might be in the future and have constructed a clear path for what lies ahead.

Ms. Kipp cheering seniors on through the college process

Photo Credit: Teddy, 11th grade

Not only is picking the right schools for you challenging, but you also want to stand out amongst other applications which can be difficult. Submitting applications can feel like a weight being lifted off your shoulders, as you no longer have to dwell on how you are portraying yourself. “I’ve already submitted 8 applications for early admissions. Turning them in made me feel accomplished and special. Before turning them in I felt like I wasn’t going to stand out from the other applicants, which made me stressed” said Vaughn, a senior.

Having the ability to redirect one stress and instead focus on what can be controlled is a strategic way to cope. Ms. Kipp, one of the college counselors stated, “I think the most stressful part is the unknown and this is the first time that a process is really out of a student’s control. One of the things students can do to mitigate that stress is to try and focus on the parts they can control – building a good list, putting together a solid application, working hard on their essays, keeping track of deadlines, and acknowledging the parts of it that are on the outside.” Students should control what they can within the process and seek help when unsure what the next steps are. 

Not only is the process unknown, but it instills a sense of newness in students. Justin, a senior, said, “The process is stressful for me because my future is not secured. For the past 6 years, I have returned to GCDS, but I will be in a new community very soon. It really forces me to be in an uncomfortable position where my future is up in the air.”

This is why students try to focus on what they can control within the process. Vaughn expresses that communication helped him ease the stress. He said, “Trusting the process and talking to my parents. They understood why I was stressed and made me feel better about my applications. I used the time during the seminar period to work on my applications and Ms. Kipp helped me review my essay and supplement questions.” 

Seminar classes were implemented for seniors to use as college counseling time. This is a period where students could work on their application list, essays, and supplements.

Jack, 12th grade, talking with Mr. Ramirez during seminar class

Photo Credit: Caroline, 12th grade

As Ms. Kipp mentioned before within the process, staying ahead of your work can balance the stress. Senior Billy mentioned that he sometimes tends to do the opposite.“Deadlines are hard to keep up with sometimes. I’m a big procrastinator and I would do my supplements the last week before they were due. You gotta do them earlier.” While procrastinating doesn’t work well for everyone, Billy was still able to work on his applications during school. “It hasn’t been as stressful for me as it was for other people. People were staying home, but I worked better in school. I worked a lot in Seminar class and free blocks researching universities and asking Ms. Kipp for help.”

Using your time wisely and focusing on what you can manage throughout the college process will help you reduce your stress.