College admissions are stressful. That isn’t a secret. As we’ve been through the process and had very different experiences, we’d like to share some of our key takeaways and tips that will hopefully help you undertake it.

• Don’t let your peers’ opinions affect your decisions

While going through the college process, you’ll realize that your friends and classmates will have different ideas about what constitutes a “good” college and college experience. Some people will prefer big cities while others want to be in small college towns. Some will want to be somewhere with a bustling sports culture, while others will want to be somewhere that is more academically focused. Most importantly, some students’ reach schools will be other students’ target schools. The things people say about a college can be hurtful to someone going to or applying to that college, so it is best to always be supportive of others’ decisions.

• For applicants to international universities: tips for approaching the process

If you apply to international colleges, you’ll realize that the American process is actually the unique one. Overseas applications are usually simple compared to the ones you’ll do for the states, and you’ll often have a good idea of your chances of being accepted. The focus is on academics- this is the main thing that will admit you to a university. The most important thing is test scores, specifically the ACT or SAT and Advanced Placement exams. Usually, also, you must apply to a specific subject at an international college, so you have to meet the requirements for that specific course. For instance, if you’re applying for biochemistry, you should take extra care to get high scores on the AP Biology and Chemistry exams. Your application essay(s) are also usually meant to be tailored to your subject- explaining why you’re interested in it, what you see yourself doing with it, and the like. If you’re quite passionate about a field of study, international schools are great options to have. You also won’t have to take any general education courses (if you are in a humanities field, you won’t have to take any STEM courses) because the focus is on your specific field of study.

• Use your resources

At LJCDS, we are very lucky to have all the resources we do to help with the college admissions process. The college counselors and essay-writing counselors are all here to help you, so don’t ever worry that you are taking up their time or asking dumb questions. So much of what we know and have learned about the process is because of our college counselors. I, Maya, committed to a college that I learned about from Mr. Fatongia. All four of the counselors are fantastic, and they are always willing to help. The essay-writing counselors are also great at helping you to improve your writing and ensure that you present the best possible image of yourself to the admissions committees. No questions are stupid- we asked our counselors about every little thing, and they were always so helpful and inviting. They’re the best! Also, Maialearning is a great way to see admissions statistics for LJCDS students in the past few years for any college. It also allows you to organize the universities you plan to apply to and rank them. College Kickstart, in our opinion, is not very useful because it only decides what your chances for admission are based on your GPA and test scores, and it is limited to American schools, which consider much more than grades.

• The most important thing: don’t procrastinate

This is the most common piece of advice, and you’ve probably heard a lot of it, but it is truly the most important. It can’t be stressed enough. Many colleges have deadlines that are late enough that you can say “I’ll just do it later,” and this mindset is dangerous when you’re in the first semester of your senior year and your teachers are loading you up with work. It might be that you completely forget about your applications during this busy time, but in any case, it can be scary to get very close to the deadline, and you might end up feeling unsatisfied with your applications because they could have been better if you spent more time on them. That being said, it’s best to start everything as early as you can. This is especially true for testing. If you are going to submit SAT and/or ACT scores, and especially if you intend to study, taking them during the application process can be quite stressful. You must devote time to both preparing and testing. Keep in mind that during this time, you will have school, testing, and applications to do, and probably a lot of anxiety as well. Try to relieve as much of this as you can by planning and working ahead, setting deadlines and reminders, and asking for help when you need it. The school community is here for you!

• Don’t take rejection personally

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get into your Early Decision or Early Action school(s). College rejections are not, by any means, a reflection of your academic or personal talent. There are simply too many qualified applicants for everyone to be accepted. At a certain point, college admissions come down to luck. Some studies even show that students whose applications are read by admissions officers on sunny days are more likely to be accepted than students whose applications are read on cloudy days. The process comes down to so many factors outside of your control, so don’t take rejection personally. Remember that you are worth so much more than the destination for your next four years of school.

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Having a dream school is very common, of course, and there’s nothing wrong with having aspirations. However, most people’s “dream schools” are the ones that have very low acceptance rates, and to be blunt, the odds are not usually in one’s favor. While an acceptance might make you ecstatic, it can be devastating to get a rejection, and more often than not, the latter happens. So, even if you have a dream school, the best way to avoid feeling too upset is to invest more of your time, energy, and interest into other schools you plan on applying to. Of course, it’s natural to be a bit sad following any rejection, but feeling happy to go to any of multiple colleges will provide a safety net for you. All of this leads back to the idea of not taking rejection personally, and in the end, you’ll end up somewhere that makes you happy. Even if you don’t like where you initially end up, transferring is always an option, so if you’re upset about your application results, just remember that there are other options and your future is never completely predestined.

We really hope this helps everyone applying to college soon and in the future. Best of luck!