“I am nervous about going to college, it’s such a big change,” “I’m not happy with my SAT scores,” and “I haven’t experienced anything exciting in my life - I have no essay material.”  This time of year can be stressful for rising juniors and seniors. The college application process can feel overwhelming, especially when teens compare themselves to others on social media.  They are definitely not alone in feeling this way! 

It is a good time to keep your eye on your teen. Anxiety, depression, and stress are real, especially in the aftermath of COVID.  Keeping communication lines open consistently is helpful; simply ask how your teen is doing - don’t worry about sounding awkward. They will understand that you are trying to support them. It can be a relief for them to share what is bottling up inside. Inevitably - you will need to talk with your teen about the college nitty-gritty, we recommend compiling all your questions and talking at a pre-planned time once per week for updates. It is less stressful and preserves strong family relationships! 

Students - a few more stress-reducing tips:

• Put a stake in the ground: Essay analysis-paralysis is quite common; overthinking can prevent taking the first step. Just put a stake in the ground - make an outline and start writing. It is better to make a choice and adjust later than to remain stuck.  

• Discover a stress buster:  Take breaks and engage in an activity that helps blow off steam! One of our students plays basketball in his yard every night at 10 pm. It provides him with the energy and focus to complete his work. 

• Celebrate the small victories: There are a lot of college application to-dos. When you get something done, no matter how small - take a break and celebrate!  

• Get organized: this means with your space and your time. A clutter free environment increases productivity and decreases stress. Creating a simple to-do list with due dates will help you stay on task, and you will feel good about yourself - it really works! 

• Scroll social media with a grain of salt: No one is going to post their worst grades on social media. It is not a complete picture of anyone’s life. Consider filtering your social media accounts to feeds that are positive and real. Take a proactive step by unfollowing accounts or people who make you feel “not quite good enough.”  You control your mindset - not others. 

Parents - Advice on how to respond to some of those common college worries

“I am nervous about going to college, it’s such a big change.“ Probe more. What part of college is making your teen nervous - is it leaving home, do they feel like they won’t make friends, is it that they have no idea what they want to major in, or is it the expense of college? Just getting to the bottom of their concern will help lessen the isolation and anxiety.  

“I’m not happy with my SAT scores, If I don’t send my test scores in, I won’t get accepted.” Not true. For the 2025 admission cycle, over 80% of 4-year colleges will remain test optional. Applicants can choose whether to submit their scores or not. In addition, standardized testing has been a topic of debate for years in its ability to predict success.  Just have your teen focus on showcasing their strengths through other aspects of their application - grades, course rigor, activities, essays, and recommendation letters.     

 “Nothing has ever happened to me  - I have no essay material!”.   Absolutely not true!  You don’t need to climb Mount Everest to write a good essay. Sometimes the smallest moments lead us to the biggest breakthroughs. How to uncover these topics? In a nutshell, brainstorm, create a strong list of details of your life, ask yourself “why” are these so important, and then dig deeper and identify which fact will tell the most unique story about you! 

Good luck and enjoy the journey - all will be OK!  

College 101 Admissions Consultants LLC. Website: www.mycollege101.com.  

Email: [email protected]. 

Phone: (508) 380-3845.

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