You think going into senior year is all fun and games, then you’re home free. It’s the final stretch of your high school career, your classes are easy, you have the option to only go half the day, but that’s when reality smacks you in the face. Seven letters, four years, one word. College. Yes, we spend four years of high school trying to get another four years of this place. Many of us realize this reality too late and while looking back on our beginning years of high school, we come to see maybe we could’ve tried a little harder.

The stress in incomparable. We all know how crucial college is; you build connections, you are educated in the field you plan to one day work in, and you have endless opportunities to study abroad and intern. College is the beginning of the rest of your life. If that isn’t stressful enough as is, you still have to worry about actually getting in.

Applying to college; something we all have to do but secretly we all don’t want to. Some college applications are far simpler than others. You send your ACT/SAT scores and high school transcripts and that’s it. Others, you have the ACT/SAT to send along with an essay following a prompt that either has nothing to do with you actually going to that school or the exact reason you do want to go to that school. Either way it’s impossible to feel comfortable with whatever you wrote because how could “me,” a senior in high school, write something good enough to be admitted to a university?

Then there are the letters of recommendation. You have to find a teacher or counselor that you like and likes you enough to write an entire letter praising you on your accomplishments and supporting your admission into that school. You better choose wisely and quickly because, yes, there are deadlines. As busy as you may be with school, extra curricular activities, and possibly a job, you have to make sure your application is due by a certain date. Most deadlines in the fall are priority deadlines for scholarships, so I would highly recommend them.

And if that isn’t enough you have finances to worry about…the final and ultimate decision when it comes to where you will and can go to college. Education at the collegiate level is the most expensive education you will ever receive and even though there are college loans, you still have to pay them back eventually. On top of that, loans have limits. So, you can’t pay for your entire education with them…which is where scholarships come into play. Never think that you can apply for too many scholarships and never underestimate your ability to win or be granted a scholarship. You’d be surprised…you can never have enough money.

So for all you college hopefuls, my words of wisdom for you would be that every year, class, and assignment matters. Don’t blow anything off. For those already in the application process, try not to stress, take a breath, and hope for the best. You’ve already done what you can do. Lastly, good luck!

xThe Kingx