October 10, 2024

How to stay sane during the college application process

Maria Mitko in Warsaw, Poland

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October 26, 2018. “College Application Week Rally” at the Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy in Soundview, New York.

The process of applying to university has been an incredibly stressful time for me.

I have questioned my decisions and abilities, and struggled with time management. Thousands of people go through this process every year.

In 2022, almost 700,000 people applied to undergraduate courses in the UK, through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). In the same year, almost 14 million students enrolled in US universities.

Apart from universities in my home country of Poland, I am also applying to schools in the UK and US, as well as Ireland and other European countries.

So, how can a person not go insane during this dreadful period? Here are four tips based on my experience with the college application process.

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Picking a school and course

Deciding on a university is extremely important. It requires a lot of time and research, especially when you want to study abroad. I’ve had to compare numerous universities based on a wide range of factors: the courses they offer; the cost of tuition; the cost of living in the university’s city; campus facilities; scholarship opportunities, and so on.

After going through a few websites, I tended to get tired and overwhelmed by the amount of information I had to process, not to mention the weight of my impending decision. Am I taking into consideration every factor? Will I make a good choice, or will I regret it? What will I do if I make a bad choice?

In a 2021 survey, about 40% of students in the US reported regretting their choice of major (main subject of study, such as English, Business or Engineering). The statistics aren’t really on anybody’s side here; there’s a decent chance I’ll end up hating my major. But that’s something each of us has to accept – we can make mistakes.

Still, to take all the precautions necessary, I did my research in small chunks over the last six months. First, I found around ten of the most suitable universities offering English Literature – my chosen course in the countries I thought I could study in.

Then, I researched how I had to send in my application, and which websites, such as Central Application Office (CAO) for Ireland and UCAS for the UK, I would have to use. This made everything seem a bit clearer, and more organised. And I could start with completing the requirements.

Organisation and requirements

I’ve found it very helpful to make comparison lists. For example, when choosing a specific university or college, I made a spreadsheet listing each one and the facilities that matter to me, to check which ones are offered by which college. This includes access to wi-fi, computer rooms, a gym, 24/7 library, a college magazine, dining hall and cafés. This helped me make sure which one was truly right for me.

Making a detailed list can also be extremely helpful when you need to keep track of course requirements. I often got lost in the swamp of numbers: which grades and exam scores were required for what course, how many years of that course I needed to take, and so on. That was until I wrote everything down in one place.

Managing your application and social life

When you’ve organised your requirements and know how many essays or admission tests you have to complete, it can still be overwhelming and lead to overworking yourself. What’s more, you can lose time for resting, socialising, or simply for yourself.

Having people you can relax and unwind with, even if only for a short time, is crucial if you want to take care of your mental health during the application process. Not only can you forget about your worries, or the burden of having to make a choice, you can find support in friends and family.

I believe a support system is vital during mentally draining periods of time, especially ones that impact your near future. Being able to talk to someone about your concerns about studying, abroad or not, and having someone just be there for you can be a game-changer.

My friends continuously made me feel more secure with myself and my abilities during this time of insane pressure. They have not doubted me for a second, which only fueled me and my ambitions.

If you’re not one for talking about your worries, you can find support elsewhere. Make time for self-care, rest, watching TV or reading – anything that can take your mind off of this stressful time.

Awaiting the decision

Although I haven’t got to this part yet, I know it’ll be the most stressful of this already exasperating experience. I won’t be able to add anything or change my application and will have to resort to waiting, like a sitting duck.

For me, the best way to get rid of some of the stress has been to accept the inevitable, and as long as I do everything I can, I will have succeeded. This will also be my ‘strategy’ for the waiting period.

At the end of the day, once your application is submitted, it’s out of your hands. Take a deep breath. You have done your best – now it’s up to the admission committees.

Written by:

Maria Mitko

Human Rights Section Editor 2024

Warsaw, Poland

Born in 2007, Maria lives in Warsaw, Poland, where she attends Witkacy High School and prepares to study English Literature.

She volunteers at a public library where she organises a board game club. She loves listening to music, reading good books and watching movies. Maria’s favourite animals are dogs, of which she has two – Rudolf and Charlie.’

Edited by:

Christian Yeung

Society Section Editor 2024

Hong Kong | United States

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