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Who had extreme stress as College Apps approached?

I mean honestly I'm going crazy, juggling senior year classes, a college class, basketball, and college applications, I'm on the verge of losing it. I have to constantly prep for the SAT because my scores need work so I can get into a nice college, personal statements, letters of recommendations, brag sheets, etc. It's just all so much, our school is small so the 12th grade advisories keep track of what we're doing and making us do college lists and what we want to major in. I don't know, I feel restrained and stressed I won't be successful like others. I understand yes college is nothing compared to the amount of work I'm doing now, but I haven't really reached that level yet, that's why I'm at my max where I stand. Everything is set, GPA, extra curricular activities, what colleges I want, and I'm starting to narrow down my majors. It's just the applications and requirements. My parents are killing me when they stress how bad finances are and how I can't really go to a great nice college. I feel like I have so much to offer and a great amount of potential, but I can't use it because of financial restraints.

September 7, 2015

14 Comments • Newest first

NonSonoFronz

If college apps are causing you stress then you probs can't handle attending a good college.
At this point in high school you should be able to handle the extra workload of writing a couple extra essays and prepping things for teachers.

Reply September 8, 2015
fradddd

Honestly it doesn't matter too much so stop worrying about it.
There's only a slight chance that your degree actually DOES help find you a perfect job in your major, and based on what I've heard from EVERYONE who went to college, that IS simply chance. So many people end up in fields they didn't major in, with degrees from great schools, but getting paid less than they thought they would...

So good luck, and let the odds be ever in your favor (because, quite frankly, it is like the Hunger Games)

Also, even commuters are already admitting that they feel like they are barely living the college experience at my university. So I recommend not commuting, and not going to a community college, but going to a college with small class sizes so you can actually graduate in 4 years.

Reply September 8, 2015 - edited
XronellX

lol I was in the same shoe. I freakin put all my effort on my personal essay. Didn't get accepted to the ones I wanted. I ended up going to community college hoping to transfer to Cal pomona.

Reply September 8, 2015 - edited
reverexx2

Look for honors programs in public institutions. They can make you work close up with the tenured faculty members.

Reply September 8, 2015 - edited
ClementZ

Can't say I was more stressed than usual during college/university applications.

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
Genji

way easier to go to a local community college and transfer to a 4-year school then to get accepted one imo..

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
mechibi

im pretty calm tbh, im just doing my college list rn, its almost finalized. Imma spend the first month of school doing my common app essay and then i'll study for my sat 2s

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
Avatar

Not me because I live in Canada and we didn't have standardized tests and written applications. In fact we had to use a website where we just picked three schools we wanted to go to and clicked submit...I got accepted like a week after I applied. If you're going in a science major and you can do math university isn't that hard either.

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
iEatNoobz

This is why I took the SAT at the start of last year, during my junior year. And I only had to take it once too!
I wish I'd studied for a few extra months though, cause I was kinda disappointed when some of the kids in my class beat my score
Our college counseling people at my school made us do all of the basic stuff (picking majors, figuring out what out what we have to do for each college, etc.), as well as writing our common app, over the summer, so I think this year should be manageable for me (though I'm still taking five honors classes and playing varsity tennis).

While I can't relate to your financial situation, I, and most people, do feel overwhelmed while trying to fit impressing and applying for colleges into their regular schedule. The best advice I can offer you is that while colleges do like good test scores and high GPAs, it's extremely important to show them your unique identity. You should consider the possibility of emphasizing activities and subjects that you enjoy (such as basketball) and that will be relevant to your major (maybe that college class?), while cutting back a bit on the things that you're doing just for the sake of a resume. It'll also probably help lower your stress levels if you get all of your deadlines, as well as what you have to do for each deadline, on paper. Managing what you have to do over the long term should give you a sense of stability.

I somewhat disagree with your notion that college will be nothing compared to what you're doing now. Even when you start college, you should be working to constantly challenge yourself, especially since you seem to be a very capable individual. Of course, I don't know you personally, or exactly what your situation is, but this is just my two cents. I hope senior year and the college app process goes well for you!

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
SlNxSTEELYS

Transfer to a better one later on

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
RichAF

You kids worry to much

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
BrokenKarma

I finally got into a class at a crowded college and was so happy.....only to have the class dropped completely by the teacher because he had medical issues....

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
Arestelle

Dude same....Major stress right here. I'm taking the SAT for the third time, and I really have to do well this time.

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited
ShammyShakes

tbt to when i got deferred from MIT

Reply September 7, 2015 - edited