The college application process has many different viewpoints. It is a mix of emotions to conquer, deadlines to meet, and essays to write. Senior year has many feelings involved and goes beyond just being excited to graduate. “It is a bittersweet feeling. I am excited for the future and what I will be able to accomplish, but I am also sad to leave so many things behind,” senior Victoria Sanchez shared.
High school can be identified as its own little world. We create a life based on Olympia’s events such as extracurriculars, academics, and socializing with those around us. Leaving that behind to go into the “big world” can cause great uncertainty, doubt, but also hope and excitement.
Despite the emotions of looking ahead, seniors also have many deadlines to meet which may cause a lot of anxiety. Some are using guidance from peers, trusted adults, college counselors, and tutors while others are going through their application process alone. Senior Trevor Gilbert expressed that ,”the most challenging part is writing essays and making sure all the deadlines are met.” There are many little details in the application process that can impact one’s college life and future. Applying for early admission and scholarships can be stressful as the deadlines are during the busiest time of the year, adding a lot of pressure onto seniors’ lives.
One of the hardest things for seniors to go through as their high school journeys come to an end is the big transition from living at home to potentially being fully independent. “I feel a little worried because I have lived with both of my parents my whole life and they usually do most of the chores around the house. The thought of having to do house chores daily to keep up with tidiness is stressful,” senior Miranda Di Marino explained. Leaving to go live on your own isn’t only about having to ensure you stay self motivated with your academics, but also having to cook for yourself, get a job, buy necessities you never thought you needed, and more. Maintaining your hygiene and keeping yourself accountable for things you never once thought about can be very overwhelming, but it will help seniors grow as individuals and become independent.
Although many seniors chose to take on this process on their own, there are many resources that are available to help them get through this rough patch.. Di Marino claimed that “talking to teachers on campus has helped me a lot and gave me many insights and tips on how to better my writing for college.” Receiving simple advice from a teacher or a counselor can make a major impact on your application and the possible outcome of this process.
Lastly, our class of 2026 has some words of advice for upcoming seniors i during their application processes. “Start researching information about colleges and their programs as soon as possible,” said Apple Yong Zheng. “Focus on managing your time between working on college applications and other things like work and school,” added Victoria Sanchez. “Everyone knows that time goes fast, but I feel like people don’t actually grasp that comment until it is really happening to you, so enjoy it!” declared Miranda Di Marino.
College application time is stressful, but filled with so much excitement for the future. Our seniors are beyond prepared and excited to overcome this process and move on to their next stage in life!
