College application season is in full swing. Whether you started over the summer or whether you are still procrastinating writing that essay, everyone applying to college is feeling the pressure. Especially those attempting to complete their forms by the early action deadlines; early action can help students get merit scholarships on a first come first basis. 

Another thing students are working on if they want to have a higher chance of making it into their dream school is those beginning of the year grades and possibly retaking the SAT. This can be pretty stressful considering the fact that the beginning of the year is when some people are just stretching their brains and getting back into the swing of things. It can be tough to maintain those grades when we only have two tests and about four product grades

Of course, the big thing about college applications is the essay. The big essay that is supposed to be a representation of you, it is supposed to college admissions officers what kind of person you are and how you will fit into their college’s dynamic. Some people aren’t big writers or find it hard to be introspective. In addition, it can be hard to compile so many thoughts or even pick a good topic.

But I’m just one person, what do the students of Leonardtown High School feel when it comes to this college application frenzy, what have been their struggles or thoughts?

One student who is looking into going to CSM and then continuing onto either Virginia Tech or St Mary’s felt that the essays were their biggest struggle.

Another student who’s top school is UMD and back up is Towson felt overwhelmed by all the college choices and how much guesswork goes into what they like in a college.

For one of our top students they are looking at UNC Chapel Hill with UMD as their backup school, but they too have struggles they have been struggling with getting all the supplemental essays completed.

Finally, for student-athletes, committing is  big deal! One of our students is looking at Salve Regina with Mary Washington as their back up and they’ve been struggling with finding a school with a balance, that matches their academic and athletic goals.

Other students don’t know where to begin, and feel a little lost when it comes to their journey and application process.

To take a closer look at what you might need to know about applying to college here’s some tips from Ms. Wilson in the Career Center:

1. Make sure to link Common App with Naviance
2. Colleges should have multiple aspects you like-Majors, Campus, Surrounding Area, etc.
3. Essays should represent you, but don’t just focus on the hard times, try to think outside the box and show what you like.
4. Have a variety of schools, you never know where you’ll end up, but it can always become the place for you.
5. Letters of recommendation should come from a teacher that can speak to your character.
6. Don’t discount yourself, look into scholarships, waivers, FAFSA
7. Lastly, take a deep breath and once you submit that application, keep it out of sight out of mind until the results come out.