Photo by Ella Carnathan.

The College & Career Information Center at WCHS offers help to students who are planning their future after high school. Rhonda Applebaum, the College and career counselor, works in the office to guide students.

The first semester of senior year brings lots of fun experiences. From senior sunrise and homecoming to leading chants in the student section of football games, seniors have a lot of excitement. However, there is a dark cloud looming around mostly every senior: college applications.

“I was looking forward to the fall semester of senior year all of high school,” WCHS senior Brendan Sklar said. “I remember seeing the old seniors participating in the traditions, like standing in the front of the student section at football games. I wanted less to worry about during the year, so I started my college applications over the summer.”

The dreaded Nov. 1 deadline gravely impacted the stress levels of WCHS seniors. Many colleges offer early admission, with deadlines that tend to fall in October or November. This means that students then have to manage their first couple of months of new classes, extracurricular activities and college applications all at once.

“I think high school seniors may find it challenging to manage their time when trying to balance extracurriculars, academics and college applications,” WCHS college and career counselor Rhonda Applebaum said. “I recommend that students start thinking about college applications during the summer before their senior year. If students plan on submitting test scores, they should probably prepare and take standardized tests during the first and second semester of junior year.”

With test scores, teacher recommendations, extracurriculars and supplemental essays galore, there is a never-ending to-do list for seniors. Seniors expecting a “chill” final year of high school have been hit with a rude awakening.

“I think the hardest part about balancing all of my applications and class load is time management,” WCHS senior Kylee Kreafle said. “There are so many deadlines to keep track of, and sometimes it feels like there just are not enough hours in the day.”

Even with careful planning, seniors often find that the application process takes an emotional toll. Between worrying about acceptance letters and trying to keep up with classwork, stress and exhaustion can set in quickly.

“When students have limited time, it is easy to forget about self-care,” Applebaum said. “Self-care is a top priority, as taking care of yourself physically and emotionally helps students successfully navigate the college application process.”

Some students find that working with teachers or peers helps ease the process. Brainstorming essay ideas, proofreading drafts or sharing personal stories can make the work feel less overwhelming.

“I had some of my friends read my essay and give me tips, and it helped me a lot,” Sklar said. “Sometimes reading it myself was not enough. Having someone else revise my essay made me feel more confident about what I was submitting.”

Another major hurdle for seniors is getting recommendation letters. Between managing deadlines and coordinating with teachers, students quickly learn the importance of communication and planning ahead. Lots of colleges accept recommendations from applicants’ teachers, as it is another perspective of a student from someone who sees them daily.

“I asked my teachers to write me a letter of recommendation at the end of my junior year,” Kreafle said. “Teachers need time to write thoughtful letters, so I thought it would be best to do it as far in advance as possible.”

Even for well-prepared students, the process can still be taxing. Some realize halfway through that their college list is too ambitious or that they are spending too much time on schools they are not genuinely excited about.

“I would advise students who are struggling to keep up with coursework while completing applications to maybe revisit their college list,” Applebaum said. “Students should make sure that they are completing applications for colleges that are really viable college choices for them.”

In recent years, the college admissions process has shifted dramatically. With the rise of test-optional policies and increasing competition, many seniors feel that getting into college has become more uncertain than ever.

“The college admissions process is certainly more streamlined than it was in the past, but I think students feel pressure because it is more competitive to get into college now,” Applebaum said. “I try to remind students that there are a lot of colleges and it is important to find the college that is the ‘right fit’ for them.”

By the time applications are submitted, most seniors feel a huge sense of relief. After months of late nights and prepping for deadlines, they can finally enjoy the traditions that make senior year special.

“When all of my work piles up, I just remind myself of my goal of getting into a good college,” Sklar said. “I know that once I am walking on my future campus or taking classes I care about, everything will have paid off.”