Beginning the college application process is something every high schooler dreads. Statistics by the American Institute of Stress show that 75% of students feel overwhelmed and stressed about applying to college. As most schools open applications, several seniors were interviewed about how they are navigating this challenging time and what advice they might have for juniors. Here’s what they had to say:

Vania Ahmadi, 17:

For Vania, the college application process is not as stressful as she’s heard, but she acknowledges it’s still the beginning of the school year. She’s focused on listening to podcasts and seeking teachers’ help for editing essays. However, she acknowledges feeling pressure from fellow classmates. 

“They’re not really sure of the future, so they begin comparing and validating themselves, you know? Competing.”

She is grateful to her teachers for their guidance, specifically, Mrs. Cathy DeSurra, her AP English Language and Composition teacher; Madame Christina Vaughan, her French teacher; and Mr. Andrew Poon, her counselor. 

She looks forward to leaving the bubble around Arcadia and going out of state, meeting new people from different backgrounds, nationalities, as well as perspectives. Vania reminds others how crucial it is to stay organized and disciplined. Vania encourages juniors to not wait to get involved in extracurriculars or start planning for college.

“Junior year is the time of self-discovery,” she said. “Be proactive rather than procrastinate.”

Shashank Tongaonkar, 17:

Shashank Tongaonkar believes that the best way to prepare for applications is to keep grades up and retake the SAT (if needed) to get a score you’re personally proud of. He emphasized the importance of getting recommendations from school staff and learning more about potential majors that interest you. Although the whole process feels overwhelming due to a lot of work involved, he highlighted essays as a significant concern.

 “I just want to make sure the essays are really good,” he said, acknowledging that “essays are a big part of the process.” 

Managing academics, extracurriculars, and applications can be tough, but Tongaonkar believes in having good time management. He juggles a marketing internship, four AP classes, and his college applications. 

“It’s almost at the finish line, so I just keep myself motivated,” Tongaonkar urges juniors to start early with preparations. “Get a good test score in, because now I’m stuck doing everything,” he advises. His advice for juniors: “Stay in the fight.”

Jodie Tran, 17:

Meanwhile, Jodie is taking that proactive approach to her applications by brainstorming and looking at the Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) required for University of California applications. 

“It’s been on my mind a lot,” she admitted, saying that the process “makes [her] think about what [she] values and what part of [herself] [she] wants to display to colleges.” One of Jodie’s main concerns is the fear of not being accepted, and she finds it a little intimidating to show her essays to other people” since it requires being vulnerable. 

To balance everything, Jodie emphasizes efficiency by “trying to do as much work in class as possible and not to work after 11 PM.”

She keeps all deadlines in a Google Doc, arranged in chronological order, to stay on top of things. For juniors, Jodie warns against overloading just for the sake of applications.

“For many schools, you can only include 10 activities,” she said. “Include what you feel is most important and meaningful. Don’t just join for the sake of writing it on college apps.”

From managing time, stress, and deadlines, each student has a unique approach. Navigating the college application process is going to be undoubtedly challenging, but with preparation, organization, and the right mindset, it can also be the complete opposite. Remember to start early, stay disciplined, and focus on what truly matters to you.