Managing Stress While Submitting College Applications: Tips To Avoid Spiraling

Article written by Denver therapist, Molly Ward

For many seniors in high school, this time of year can be a time of fun and excitement as you enter your last year of high school. Simultaneously, this time of year can also be incredibly overwhelming for potential college applicants.

In this college application season, with so many deadlines, essays to write, pressures to figure out the future, and desires to stand out, it can be easy to start to notice anxiety increasing.

We’ve put together some helpful insights from both a licensed mental health therapist and a college counselor to help you manage your mental health before you start spiraling.

Manage the Stress of College Applications with these Tips from a Licensed Therapist & a College Counselor

Acknowledge the Stress

The first step in managing anything is to first acknowledge and bring awareness to what’s happening.

Read More: “Teens and Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide

You can’t take steps to manage anything if you don’t first know what’s going on.

Avoiding emotions can often make things worse and hinder your ability to complete tasks.

Simply acknowledging the emotions around the college application process can help give them less power and ease any disruption with preparations.

Don’t Compare

The college process is different for everyone! Try not to compare your path to someone else’s.

The amount of colleges someone applies to can differ, when someone applies, whether someone applies early action or early decision, or whether someone knows their track or not – there can be so many differences in the college application process.

The most important thing is that you are in line with your values and are following your own needs.

If you are feeling behind compared to someone who’s already submitted an application, college counselor Gil Guo of College Matters reminds students “anyone can submit an application, but not everyone can submit their best application”.

Stay in tune and trust your own process.

Adjust Your Expectations To Meet Reality

One of the hardest parts about this journey is trying to match dreams with reality.

There are a lot of factors that go into what makes up your reality; financial concerns, family relationships, your academic transcripts, etc.

You have many strengths, but you just need to find the right fit to match those strengths.

This process is filled with many ups and downs and it’s okay if the outcome is not exactly how you envisioned it. Adapting your expectations will help you reduce pressure and easy anxiety.

Know Your Deadlines

College counselor, Gil Guo, shares that one of the most helpful ways to ease anxiety is to know your deadlines.

Read More: “Resilience Helps Teens Thrive. Learn How To Build Resilient Teens”

Once you have been able to create a clear picture of what applications and supplementals are due when, you can visualize an effective plan to tackle your list of to-do’s.

This will not only help you stay on track, but also ease with feeling swamped as deadlines approach.

Without knowing these deadlines, anxiety can increase when you realize you’ve been focused on something that’s less of a priority or worse case, you’ve missed an opportunity to submit something.

Before rushing into anything, find the best way to organize these deadlines to help you navigate the process with more ease and confidence.

Pace Yourself

Juggling all that goes with the college application process in addition to keeping up with school can be incredibly overwhelming.

Although tackling what needs to be done is an incredibly effective way to manage anxiety, it’s important to pace yourself throughout this process.

It can benefit you to get things in as soon as possible, but if you’re struggling, try not to start spiraling.

There’s still plenty of time to submit applications and some colleges even have deadlines in the Spring or do open enrollment.

Submitting work you feel good about will always be more beneficial than rushing to meet an arbitrary timeline.

Seek Support

This process should not be managed alone! There are so many supports out there that can help guide you through this process, as others once guided them.

This could be a parent, school advisor, teacher, professional college counselor, sibling, mentor, therapist, etc.

Deciding what colleges you want to go to, applying, and making big financial decisions is no easy or light matter.

Consider having regular check-ins with your trusted support system to help clarify goals and logistical concerns.

Even if you are someone that tends to be independent, please know that you do not need to be an expert of everything. Asking for help is a strength.

Practice Mindfulness & Self-Care

Though the above mentioned practical tips can be supportive in managing anxiety, taking time to slow down and nurture your mental health with self-care will be the most important thing you can do.

Read More: “Understanding Common Mental Health Challenges Faced By Teens”

Without self-care and mindful moments, tackling any of this becomes irrelevant as your mental health is the foundation to it all.

Think about incorporating activities that promote relaxation such a deep breathing exercises, such as doing a craft, or simple stretches.

Apps like Headspace and Calm can also help guide you through mindfulness practices.

Taking care of yourself is not a luxury, it’s a necessity that can empower you to approach your college applications with a clear mind.

Though the college application process can be a daunting journey, it can also be incredibly exciting.

As you follow these tips to help manage anxiety, give yourself grace for all that you are managing.

And if you are finding that it is becoming too overwhelming or want additional support in preparation, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health therapist.

A therapist can help you learn ways to manage your anxiety and provide support for you throughout the process.

The college application is a pivotal moment in your life, and with the right tools and support, you can turn a potential spiral of anxiety into an opportunity of growth and success.

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Molly Ward is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addictions Counselor who supports teens and young adults as they navigate this pivotal transition time in life. Molly supports teens as they manage stress, anxiety, worry, fears, and overwhelm of the college application process.

In increased times of stress, teens may lean on less healthy or less helpful ways of coping like avoidance, distraction, substance use for example. Molly takes a wellness-based approach to helping teens navigate stress.

If you or your teen are seeking support, book a session today.