We are about to enter a stressful week in the admissions cycle. Colleges will begin to release decisions to applicants that applied in the Early Decision round. These schools tend to be quite selective and the applications are binding. I find that anxiety levels rise in high school this time of year. It can be nerve wracking to see peers receive acceptance letters when you are still working on applications or finalizing lists. When you see friends accepted in the early round and they know exactly where they are going next August, it can feel like everyone else is all set and you are not. If you applied in the early round and you did not get the answer you were hoping for, it can be devastating. This devastation can reach an entirely different level if people around you are receiving acceptance letters. So be aware that we are entering a new phase of the admissions process that may bring heightened emotions.
I wrote this piece below for the very first group of kids that I ever advised. Please take it to heart and use it to help alleviate stress and enjoy your senior year!