My Ways of Being Less Stressed While Waiting for College Application Letters

By: Anna Janumov

​It’s that time of year again. Us high school seniors have to anxiously wait, pray, and even manifest an acceptance letter from our dream schools. Lots of us see it as a gateway to a new chapter in our lives, maybe a whole new book for others. It’s the thing that we’ve all been told to work towards at school, everything from grades to volunteering, basically anything you do with your time. However, one important thing to remember is that college is NOT the “end all, be all” path in life. You have to remember that it doesn’t matter which college you get into at the end of the day, it’s all about what you achieve with what you are given in life.

Now, onto the main point: once you submit the application, that matter is out of your control, so there’s no point in stressing about it. Instead of sitting next to your mailbox waiting for a letter, I’ve put together a list of things that helped me be less nervous about my applications. Feel free to revisit this list any time you need a reminder that it’s all going to be okay. You’re in control of your own life, and whatever happens, you’re going to do great things in life in your own ways.

Cooking and baking!

This one is honestly my personal preference, I find a nice and easy recipe that I love, and I try to work with some of my favorite music playing. As long as my mind is occupied and I’m making my favorite foods, I can feel the stress melting away. Plus, it gives me some time to rationalize my thoughts about the applications.

Play with an animal!

If you have a cat, dog, lizard, spider, anything really, go and hang out with them for a bit. Studies have shown that pets (especially dogs and cats) can reduce stress levels, and it’ll be nice for both sides because they get some extra playtime. If you don’t have a pet, that’s totally okay! Visit or volunteer at your local animal shelter or pet store and play around with those sweet little pets.

Give yourself a self-care day.

​You’ve worked hard on those applications, you deserve a bit of time for yourself. Put on your favorite show, take a nice bath, maybe put on a face mask, do whatever you’ve been putting off for yourself. Why? Because you earned this.

Don’t be afraid to talk about your worries.

​College application season is always a stressful time, and chances are that your friends could be going through the same things. Contact some friends and have a chat about your thoughts, it’ll be a good chance for you to let it all out rather than bottling up your worries. Again, whatever happens with the colleges, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get the response you wanted.

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I know the circumstances are less than optimal this year because of COVID-19, but don’t let that get you down about college. Stay determined, stay strong, and stay healthy.