As the class of 2024 begins to bask in the glory of being the big dogs on campus, they are able to participate in a plethora of activities, from Senior Sunrise to Senior Trick-or-Treat. However, there is something else that comes with the territory: college applications.
Filling out applications is arguably one of the most stressful processes of the year, and it can leave many students and parents feeling confused and overwhelmed. Students are experiencing stress from the demand of numerous essays, and an pressure that originates from fear of the unknown of upcoming college decisions.
“The college application season is always a really stressful time for our students,” Lambert Counselor Chelsey Bucherati stated. “A lot of times what we’ll see is students having their hopes and dreams tied to one school. … college admissions have changed so much, things are so competitive.”
Each student in school varies in the way they approach college applications. From the number of colleges they apply to to the way they manage stress, each individual has different needs.
“I wish students would narrow down more before they actually apply so that they have more time to devote to the colleges they’re really serious about,” Bucherati explained. “And so narrowing down that list and applying to -we recommend like six schools at the end of the day.”
However, one thing Lambert students all have in common is the fact that they come from a highly competitive school filled with individuals that strive for a certain degree of excellence and, more often than not, start preparing for college considerably early.
“I’m 75 percent done with my college application,” Senior Rohit Rajesh stated. “It’s important to start early, start preparing yourself everyday, make a schedule for yourself and overall keep consistent.”
With the amount of competitive universities Lambert students apply to, there are many misconceptions on certain ways to go about their application, mostly coming from peers or outside information. To combat this issue and show students they are truly not alone in this often intimidating process, Lambert counselors are putting extra focus on helping students and allotting time to them.
“This year, we are going to do senior classrooms as a workshop,” Bucherati began. “Where we’re actually going to start your common app while we’re in there with you and help you make sure you are really aware of all the right buttons to click, and I think that’ll help alleviate some of that anxiety.”
It is important for students to note that in addition to academic standing, grade point average (GPA) and class rank, there are many aspects to their application that are important. Although it is difficult to discern between colleges and what they place emphasis on, something that all applicants should strive to do is make sure their common application represents them holistically and who they are as a person.
“You’ve got to be able to hold a conversation and impress people with your personal skills,” Bucherati explained. “But then there are the other aspects of your college application that are super important such as how you come across in your writing and other people’s recommendation of you.”
Something that is important for all high-school students and parents to take away from this stressful process is that there are important milestones and lessons that can be learned from this experience. Finding a college that can be a second home and really hone you as a person and who you will be as a future adult is incredibly vital. Lambert administrators and counselors urge you to use your journey in applying to college and make it your path in finding yourself and becoming someone you are proud of.
