{"id":14840,"date":"2022-09-12T13:24:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T17:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=14840"},"modified":"2022-09-16T09:36:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T13:36:04","slug":"3-ways-to-avoid-stress-during-the-fall-of-your-high-school-senior-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/3-ways-to-avoid-stress-during-the-fall-of-your-high-school-senior-year\/","title":{"rendered":"3 ways to avoid stress during the fall of your high school senior year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you are anything like the vast majority of high school seniors, chances are you’re in high-stress mode right about now. The path leading to graduation can feel like an obstacle course \u2014 you’re leaping over midterms and exams, wading through college applications and possibly scrambling through a final SAT test<\/a>.<\/p>\n The sheer multitude of things to do may seem daunting, but don’t worry! The shining light at the end of the senior year tunnel is growing brighter, and it’s easier to reach than you may think. Practice these three tips on living a stress-free senior year, and you will be donning your cap and gown before you know it!<\/p>\n At least one of your college applications will ask for a letter of recommendation, character letter, reference or some combination of the above. You probably have that one teacher in mind to write it for you \u2014 the one who helped you on papers, who knows your academic potential and who you feel may best understand you as a student. That teacher would love nothing more than to write you a recommendation, right? Yeah, you and the 20-30 other students who ask.<\/p>\n Do both your favorite teacher and yourself a huge favor and ask for recommendation letters or help on your applications early. As in, send them an email right now. The earlier you ask, the more likely you are to avoid the flood of students pining for recommendations and essay proofreads. This means you will get more of your teacher’s attention, and they will be able to spend more time on your letter of recommendation or proofreading your application essay.<\/p>\n Every college you will apply to has a unique application process. Even if half of them use the Common App<\/a>, they will likely require you to write essays on different topics, or they will have sections of the application specific to that college. These sections distinguish you from other applicants, so it’s important to spend a little more time on them. Doing this for 20 applications could make you unnecessarily overwhelmed. College applications are both expensive and time-consuming, and applying to an excessive number of schools may not be necessary to find your perfect fit.<\/p>\n Keep it simple and categorize the schools you are considering into three classes \u2014 reach (ones you think you can get into, but it may be a bit of a stretch), target (ones you’re pretty sure you could get accepted at) and safety (ones you know without a doubt you’ll get into). Now, when deciding which of these schools you’ll actually apply to, most of them should be in your target range, with a few each in your reach and safety categories. This way, you’ll have a nice selection of schools to pick from when the acceptance letters start rolling in!<\/p>\n One of the most exciting things about senior year is the opportunity to walk around potential future homes. Taking tours<\/a> of different college campuses is a great way to get a glimpse into the lives of students and see what each college can offer you. If you can, take a formal tour with a campus tour guide, but also walk around a bit on your own. Explore the area surrounding the college as well \u2014 you never know what hidden study spots you may find!<\/p>\n1. Ask your teachers for their help early to avoid unnecessary stress.<\/h2>\n
2. More may not be better when it comes to college applications.<\/h2>\n
3. Tour college campuses and engage with students and faculty.<\/h2>\n