Staying Motivated During the College Admissions Process
Get help from your teachers, parents, and college advisors!
Organize your requirements and upcoming due dates!
Keep your eyes on the prize by visiting college campuses!
Burnout can happen to anyone, so take a moment to relax!
How to Stay Focused for College Applications
For many students, the college admissions process is a daunting time filled with uncertainty. With the looming pressures of standardized tests, extracurricular activities, maintaining your grades, and decision day, it’s difficult to stay motivated and finish high school on a positive note.
This article will provide strategies for high school students to stay motivated through their college admissions journey and carry that momentum into college!
Ask for Help
During the college admissions process, it will be challenging to balance your current academic and personal life with the deadlines and commitments that come with the college process. When things get hectic and overwhelming, it’s important to ask for help when you need it!
Whether it be a parent, teacher, or advisor, having someone with experience and an understanding of the transitional period between high school and college will be very helpful when navigating college applications, personal statements, financial aid reports, or just your feelings regarding the whole process.
Don’t be afraid to take advantage of your network. Remember, everyone wants you to succeed and will be more than willing to give a helping hand or ear!
Be Organized
To stay motivated throughout the college admissions process, having a system to visually keep track of everything is key. Missing a deadline or forgetting a signature on an important document is the last thing you need in an already stressful situation!
Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is an amazing tool to keep track of all your applications. Make a list of all the colleges that you’re planning on applying to and list all the important deadlines, SAT requirements, application login IDs and passwords, and supplemental essay requirements from each university.
When your deadline is getting closer, make the cell bright red so there’s no way you can miss it! Make a note to ask your teacher to write a recommendation or send your SAT scores to the schools you're applying to. As you complete each task or a deadline passes, cross it out or mark it a different color. This can also be an excellent organizational method when it comes to keeping track of financial aid or scholarships!
Plan a Visit
Why not get a glimpse of what you’re aiming for?
Visiting colleges can not only help you envision your future college life, but also remind you what you’re working towards and motivate you to focus on the tasks at hand - whether it be college applications or assignments for your high school classes. A lot of colleges offer open days or daily tours to give prospective students a look into daily life on campus. This could be a chance for you to consider what you like and dislike for your college experience; maybe you’ll stumble on something you never even considered!
The best time to visit college campuses is during the second semester of your junior year or the summer before your senior year of high school when you’re just starting to consider schools. You don’t necessarily have to go out of your way to visit a college across the country, but taking a weekend to explore a college campus can be a great way to keep that fire burning!
Take Breaks
As a student, the stress and excitement of college admissions, senior activities, keeping your grades up, AND maintaining a social life can make you feel worn out and stressed. You may want to power through and just get through those college essays - no time to rest when that December deadline is coming up fast!
Not so fast! Remember, college applications are about putting your best self forward - a tired, overstressed brain won’t be able to write a college essay or keep track of those deadlines nearly as well as a well-rested, calm one will.
No matter how many deadlines and activities are looming over you, remember to take a break. Burnout is a serious thing, so it's important to take a moment to relax and re-center yourself. Get away from your computer and hang out with your friends, watch a movie, or even take a nap. Just give yourself time to disconnect for a while so you’ll be recharged and ready to dive back in!
Final Thoughts
The college application process can be a stressful time, and it can be easy to lose sight of your goal. But remember, the whole process will be over before you know it!
If you do your best to make the most of your experience and tackle those challenges, you’ll be sure to achieve amazing results! Good luck!
