Hello rising Westmont juniors and seniors! As you begin to approach the joys of summer, you might have friends or family question you about college. They’ll ask you what your plans for the future are, what schools you’re looking at, or how far along you are on your applications. As you enter this period of heightened expectations and unfair comparisons, don’t forget to give yourself some grace. Remember, everyone’s path is different; there is no right or wrong way to go about college applications.
Personally, I didn’t have any idea what I wanted in a school until I toured different campuses. A visual representation and grounded understanding of what a school has to offer helps shape your goals for the future. Visiting schools can aid your search and get rid of those clouded thoughts blocking your common sense during application season. Remember, everyone works in different ways, and while some students might have a dream college, or be able to list countless facts about wherever they are applying, you might not even know what major you want yet—that is totally ok and normal.
Whatever method you use to approach the college search, try to start it early. If you’re waiting until application month to think about what you want for your future, you’re going to have twice as much work. It doesn’t matter if you know exactly what schools or directions you want to go in, it just helps to have a rough idea of what a bright future looks like to you. Emphasis on you, not your friends, not your parents, not your teachers. You get to decide for yourself what you want out of your years right out of high school.
As for the applications themselves: take it easy. If you don’t start until September, October, or even November, that’s okay—as long as you have a roadmap for success. Go week by week and decide what days you’re going to fill out the easy busywork of the applications, the challenging essays and personal questions, and any other supplemental works you might need to attach, including letters of recommendation. Time shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle as long as you write a plan out at least a month or two ahead of your deadlines. Maybe I’m being a little too lenient on time, and the amount of time necessary definitely depends on the number and types of schools you decide to apply to. But I was able to balance first-semester schoolwork, college applications, and theatre rehearsals despite the hefty amount of work. Plan things out ahead of time, keep calm, and use your resources wisely.
I have faith in everyone applying to colleges next year and in the years to come. I, for one, had a great time reflecting on different aspects of my life and putting them to page for my essays and PIQs. The whole process can seem daunting, but if you break it down and take it one step at a time, it will seamlessly fit into your first semester of senior year. The application process is not the end of the world. Just keep reminding yourself of your goals and adapting to whatever is going on in school. I believe in you!