College applications: every senior’s worst nightmare. The fear of not getting accepted to one’s dream school, the irrational fear of not getting into college, and the fear of possibly moving away from home dwells repeatedly in the minds of seniors.
The college application process is one that is long and complicated; therefore, seniors all over the country are stressing over just the idea of it. The Common App (the platform used at St. Thomas Aquinas for college applications) opened on August 1, causing seniors to worry before school even began.
Students are expected to have already finished their first drafts of their college resumés and Common App essays during their junior year. In addition to that, seniors must now secure letters of recommendation depending on the schools they are applying to, write supplementals, and in some cases apply for scholarships.
At this point, students are overflowing with stress. They are struggling with the anxiety of the unknown, as well as the pressure that comes with making sure that everything is in place. Seniors are also faced with the task of keeping up with their classes and after-school activities.
Demia Sapp stated that the SAT was the most demanding part of her college application process because “[her] performance in the classroom does not match with [her] SAT scores.” Sienna Wells added that “writing supplementals is the most stressful part because there are [usually] two for the colleges [she’s] applying to.”
Meanwhile, Jaqueline Feldman is committed to Princeton University for lacrosse and said the most exciting part of this process has been “seeing all of [her] hard work validated.” Feldman elaborated on how it was not easy to commit: “it is a very hard process because I have to do all the same work, but it is going to feel amazing when it is over.”
In spite of the stress, students are looking forward to the boundless possibilities that lie on the road ahead. Ally LaMont is most excited about “meeting new people and having more opportunities to be involved in a bigger community.”
The stakes are high for our stellar students, but so are the endless opportunities. STA prepares students to succeed when it comes to going into college, and the guidance counselors are also very willing to help if needed. Although applying to college can be draining at times, it will be very rewarding in the future.
