The college application process is stressful for every student. The paperwork, essays, recommendation letters, deadlines, etc. take up time and energy, while you’re still trying to graduate high school. College application stress is real, but, thankfully, so are the relief tips too.

Don’t fall victim to college application stress; it’s easily avoidable by using the tips provided here.

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Start As Early As Possible

Give yourself enough time to weigh your options calmly.

There are thousands of options out there to choose from for college. Trying to figure out where to even start causes students stress. To head this problem off, start doing research as early as possible.

Make a list of schools you’re thinking about and take the following steps:

• Visit their admissions requirement websites
• Talk to admissions representatives
• Attend available information sessions

Consider the factors that are important to you in a dream school. Another thing you can do is start thinking about your personal statement essays and letters of recommendation.

Start talking with teachers, coaches, etc. who’ve played a role in your academic development and see who’d be willing to write one.

Organize Important Dates And Deadlines

Organize your efforts through your admissions application materials.

If you’re applying to multiple schools simultaneously, then keeping track gets rough. Instead of trying to keep everything straight mentally, write down all submission deadlines for your schools.

By doing so, you accomplish the following:

• Set a timeline to get everything submitted
• Prioritize deliverables

Make a list containing the following information:

• All upcoming deadlines
• Application fees
• Test score report submission
• Required letters of recommendation
• Personal statement essays

You can then tackle each application deliverable in a timely fashion, and prioritize them by deadlines.

Don’t Be Scared Of Getting Help

No one expects you to handle this process completely alone.

You aren’t expected to handle the entire college application process alone. That’s not to say that the initial research and selection process can’t be done all by yourself.

However, when it comes to working on essays, soliciting letters, doing standardized test prep, etc., by all means, ask for assistance. The best people to ask in this situation are adults including:

• Parents
• Teachers
• School counselor
• Close friends

If you have the available financial resources, you can even hire an independent admissions consultant to walk you through the process. Have someone you trust to review your essay drafts, help you with test prep, or answer questions you have about the application itself.

Reuse Materials Where Appropriate

Use shortcuts in the application process to save time.

If you’re sending applications through the Common App, the good news is you can send multiple schools your basic information fast. When it comes to your personal statement and other supplemental essays, thankfully, there’s often crossover regarding format and topics.

It’s okay to use a lot of the material you write on multiple essays. The trick is making sure to personalize each one for that particular school. Don’t send out a generic personal statement essay without reiterating why you believe you should be admitted to a specific school.

If you do so, then it will be promptly ignored. Admissions officials want to know why you want to join them, not that you’re looking to attend college alone.

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College Application Stress Relief Tips FAQ

What’s the first thing I can do to make applying for college easier?

Start researching schools as early as possible. The earlier the better, because you can check out their admissions websites, research costs, and plan for campus visits. Start looking at least during the beginning of your junior year.

What’s another tip that will help me stay calm during the admissions process?

Organize your efforts through your admissions application materials. If you’re applying to multiple schools simultaneously, then keeping track gets rough. Instead of trying to keep everything straight mentally, write down all submission deadlines for your schools. Then break down all the deliverables into categories and submission dates.

What’s a trick I can use when applying to mulitple schools?

It’s okay to reuse a lot of the material you write on multiple essays. The trick is making sure to personalize each one for that particular school. Don’t send out a generic personal statement essay without reiterating why you believe you should be admitted to a specific school.

Who should I ask for help along the way?

The best people to ask in this situation are parents, teachers, school counselors, and even close friends. If you have the available financial resources, you can even hire an independent admissions consultant to walk you through the process.

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