By: Kaya Langdon
Starting your college journey is an exciting and pivotal moment! It’s a time filled with
anticipation, dreams, and a load of anxiety. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With some
planning, navigating the application process can be smooth sailing.
anticipation, dreams, and a load of anxiety. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With some
planning, navigating the application process can be smooth sailing.
The key to a successful college application is starting early! Yes, it can be extremely
difficult, but it’s really not something to brush off. Procrastinating over this situation will make
everything a lot trickier, especially if you already struggle to stay organized on top of that. It’s
wise to begin researching colleges and their admission requirements even if college is nowhere
near; sophomore year can be a good time to start. Keeping track of all of your deadlines helps to
avoid last-minute stress.
Don’t forget to assess your goals, too. Consider some of your personal preferences in
college: what are you passionate about? What kinds of environments do you thrive in? Does
location matter? Do you need the bravado of going to an ivy league school? These are all things
to consider before settling on a college that will help you narrow down your options and find the
best fit for you.
Once you have a clear idea of your priorities, it’s finally time to get into the details!
Using college guidebooks and fairs to gather information is a really good way to get a feel for the
kind of atmosphere you would be in. It’s also a great idea to reach out to current students or
alumni, just to get some firsthand experiences! Talking to other people that have gone through
what you have is a seriously overlooked thing.
And obviously, preparing for standardized tests is another big thing before going into
college. No, these tests aren’t everything, but it can be a good idea to treat them like such. There
are plenty of practice exams and test prep courses online that are a good idea to take full
advantage of; you’d be surprised how much they can help. Just remember that these tests are
only one piece of the puzzle, and they don’t mean everything.
It’s also good to remember that you can never be a perfect student or have everything
figured out right away. You can never be 100% prepared for college, but there are plenty of steps
you can take to minimize stress. But this is a stressful time in life, so it’s important to take a
breath and take pride in the accomplishments you’ve already made. The college application
process can be an arduous journey, and it’s okay to take some detours along the way. Embrace
your strengths, your flaws, and the anxiety that comes with becoming an adult, and get ready to
start the next chapter of your life with confidence!
