For most high school seniors, college application season is well underway. Most early application deadlines, which are November 15th, have already passed and regular decision deadlines are January 1st. With stress and external pressures mounting, students are learning to navigate the process as they narrow their target schools based on different criteria.
As the years have passed, it has become evident to high school seniors that applications have become increasingly more competitive. From 2010 to 2023, data analyses revealed that tuition fees have increased by 36.7 percent at public four-year institutions. Burdened by decisions and changes they believe could alter their life trajectory, these high schoolers face multiple obstacles that previous generations haven’t seen. Pursuing ambitious extracurriculars to appear accomplished contributes to decreased attention and negative self-image, but students feel as if they have little choice in how they budget their time in their final year of high school.
A prevalent challenge in the college application process is managing schoolwork and turning in assignments on time. “Senioritis” is a common word used to characterize the burnout accompanying many students during this time of year. Because teachers have to fulfill curriculum requirements and prepare students for standardized tests, such as AP exams, seniors who challenge themselves to boost their GPAs may struggle through their first semester.
“Some of my teachers have been understanding, but I don’t think most have really adjusted the workload,” Richard Montgomery senior Ginger Speer said. “Which is fair, since I know that they have curriculums to follow, but it can be difficult to balance homework and college deadlines.”
Some students suggest incorporating balance into work schedules so educators can introduce flexibility into their assignment deadlines. Advising students to “stay organized” and “create to-do lists” may not be enough for teens who work jobs or participate in competitive sports.
“I tried to get a head start on the whole process which made it a lot easier for me,” Richard Montgomery senior Samiksha Mahashetty said.
Asking rhetorical questions about what type of environment best suits them and how college factors into what life they aspire to lead is a useful starting point that students thought about when compiling a college list.
“A lot of people are applying to [more than 20] colleges, but I managed to narrow mine down by simply asking myself, ‘Would I really go to this college?’” Mahashetty said. “If I couldn’t imagine going to the college, then I chose not to apply to it.”
Counselors provide additional resources for independent and self-sufficient seniors, particularly those with minimal external support or those who are the first in their families to apply for college.
“My parents aren’t especially knowledgeable about it and I don’t have an advisor or anything. While I’ve met with my counselor and visited the career center, most of the research and effort has been on my own,” Speer said. “It’s a lot, but it’s exciting and I have 8/10 of my apps completed! I think the most important [thing is] staying organized.”
In 2023, around seven million American teenagers applied for college according to Common App Data, which is about a seven percent rise compared to previous years.
Written by. Anshi Purohit