Tips for Fighting College Application Stress

When you’re in the middle of the application process, it’s difficult to remember that millions had gone through this before you and made it out on the other side. It’s much easier to become consumed with anxiety and worry about getting into your dream school and wondering whether your essay was good enough. Here are some tips for fighting college application stress so you can combat those nerves.

Be Open

Having a dream school is great for motivation but could be devastating if things don’t go your way without other options. Make sure you apply to schools that fit what you’re looking for, even if they aren’t “perfect.” Disappointment is one thing, but the prospect of facing life after graduation with no college options is something to avoid at all costs.

If you don’t get into your dream school, it isn’t the end of the world. Every college offers something, and you can thrive no matter where you go. Besides, transferring is never off the table!

Stay Organized

The more schools you look at, the more deadlines and requirements you’ll need to remember. Consider making a spreadsheet of all your different college options along with their various due dates so that you have all the important information in one place. You can even sort by date once all your schools are in the spreadsheet, so you’ll know how best to prioritize your time.

Avoid Bad Habits

Your stress isn’t going anywhere if you continue bad habits to reinforce it. Checking your email hourly for any admissions news or obsessively waiting for the mail truck won’t change the contents of the email or letter. All this will do is spike your anxiety levels and keep you in a constant state of stress.

In this case, the best thing to do is “fake it ‘til you make it,” or pretend that you don’t care at all. Check your email twice a day, at most. Grab the mail long after the mail truck comes. The better you get at pretending you don’t care, the more that act will become real and give you a chance to breathe.

Stay Active

When you’re full of nervous energy, put it to good use. Take walks, work out at the gym, or play sports with your friends. If you use enough of that energy, when the time comes for sleep, you’re much more likely to pass out quickly rather than think about college for an hour while lying in bed.

Hire a Consultant

If the stress is too much, consider taking some of the work off your plate by hiring a professional consultant. They’ll help you find the best fit, keep track of deadlines, and tell you what you need to do to get into your dream school.

If you arm yourself with these tips for fighting college application stress, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the rest of your junior or senior year set up for success!

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