College Apps And The Waiting Game

Credit%3A+Marissa+Dalton

Credit: Marissa Dalton

What happens to all the stress that goes into the college application process after all of the applications are submitted?

Students face the well-known stress of applying to college throughout majority of their senior year of high, but, while students feel a sense of relief when all their applications are in, a whole new kind of stress is formed from the waiting process.

Associate Director of College Counseling, Ms. McDowell, has her own term for this different type of stress.  “I call it rite of passage stress,” she said, “everything prior to this point you’ve been in control of.  You’ve written the essays, you’ve gotten the grades, you ask your teachers for the recommendations, you were in charge and now submit everything and now it’s all hands off and you have no control.”

Senior Kassandra Orcutt said her stress level decreased greatly after submitting applications since the “long and demanding” process was over, but revealed that her stress levels weren’t as bad as some of those of her peers since she heard back from colleges sooner. She will be attending Framingham State University this coming fall.

“For me it was more stressful with the process because it takes such a long time.  But, because I [applied early action] I got my response back sooner. I think the stress of applying was more stressful,” she said.  But, she did agree to the feeling of being out of control after the submissions and said “whatever happens, happens.”

This type of stress is often seen in many athletes trying to play their sport in the college level.  Senior athlete Christian Anzeveno said this is because “athletes can’t pick what schools they want to go, the schools have to pick them.”  Just like McDowell said, “it’s all hands off and you have no control.”