College Applications

While senior year can be described as only fun, it also requires a lot of decision making and responsibility.  You are making the biggest decision in your life thus far.  With saying this, I have compiled, in my opinion, three of the most helpful tips that can help make the college application process a little easier.

1. Apply Early
• If you think about it, the earlier you apply, the sooner the admissions team at that college sees your application.  This can mean you have more of a chance of getting accepted.  
• If your school has rolling admission, then you can find out their admission decision sooner rather than later.
• If you apply early, then that means there is less stress later.  You can get all of your stress out of the way and then just wait.
2. Establish a manageable pace
• The worst thing you can do is wait until the last minute to crank out an essay the night before the application is due.  This will mostly have no good outcome, because the people who are reading your essay will most likely be able to see that you did write it out at the last minute.  That may not look the best when they are making the decision on whether or not they want you at their school.
• Instead, a smart idea is to set deadlines; this is especially if you are applying to a lot of colleges.  Make sure you know when the applications are due at each college.  Again, this is all about being responsible.  This will help in the long run with the stress and the work load overall.  
3. Be honest
• This is mainly to help with the essay part of the application.  This essay is what distinguishes you from the thousands of other applicants that are applying to this same school.  You want to be original and make it personal.  This is the very small glimpse that the college will receive of who you are, and will most likely be the biggest decision in the admissions team's decision making process.
• Also, keep in mind that there are so many ways that someone can figure out if information is true or not.  Don't make the decision that forces someone to look up that information.  Also, if there is any false information on your application, there is a major chance that you won't be accepted in to that school.

Yes, college applications can and will be stressful.  However, keep in mind that once they are completed, you will feel so much better and you can start having fun.  Everything is going to work out and it will all be okay.