The seniors are beginning to receive their college decisions, as well as their financial aid packages, which is  a change in the behaviors and motivation of many. This advancement is really taking a toll on the juniors. Junior, Gracie Burnim said “I’m worried that I won’t like all of the classes that I chose, or that I will not  like my major.” When not even knowing what you are interested in, the college process may seem overwhelming, but these tips from seniors and staff should help the process along.

When first applying to college, it may seem that the deadlines are so far away, but they will approach much quicker than you might like. I’m sure you have heard that your junior year is the most important academic year for college admissions officers, but it seems to be much more than just that. When applying to college, make sure that you cover all of your commitments, as well as any extracurriculars, and even work experience. Not that one of these would make or break you, but it would certainly help.

When applying to college if you use the “Common App” platform, there are several sections that need to be filled out, that include your education, family, and even your financials. The nice part about the Common App is that after filling this out, it saves to your account, and you are able to send it to as many colleges as you would like, with a fee that can range anywhere form $65-$120.

In addition to this inquiry section there is the ‘Personal Essay’ portion of the application. This is where you pick a topic or idea that you would like to express to the different colleges that isn’t portrayed in the application itself.

One of the most helpful things was to get all of the supplemental essays done during the summer and just edit and tweak them to the best that they can be before the deadline. Do not wait until the weekend before the application deadline, because then the essay that is supposed to represent your potential is rushed and not edited well. Getting the majority of the workload out of the way in the summer creates a relatively calm fall. You just putting the pieces together and sending them in.

Applying early is one of the most important tips that could be given to juniors. Senior Donna Ross said, “make a to-do list and take notes of all of your likes and dislikes when you visit the colleges you are going to apply to. Also, you should apply early to as many schools as you can.” She said that you should not only try to apply early, but also you should weigh out the pros and cons to each school, making sure that the one you choose is the best fit for you.

Talking to the guidance department gave some great insight and tips on the college process, from the experts themselves. Guidance Director Meghan Ober said, “In terms of the college process, some major tips are definitely planning ahead. The tough thing is that is really hard to do. Some students really like planning far in advance, and for other students, they just aren’t ready because it doesn’t seem real yet.” She said that some students take longer than others to realize, that this is such a big life step. This is the next phase of your life, and the determination of how it should go should not be rushed through, or completed last minute.

Ober said that parents are a crucial element when applying to schools, but that they should not be the sole element. You should be the one applying.

The hardest part really comes when decisions are being made. Money: do I go to the cheapest, or do I just take out more in loans? Should I factor in the length of schooling or just worry about it when I come to it? These are many questions that the seniors may be asking themselves right about now.

Ober said, “I also think at the end when it comes to decision time, you should really following the money, especially if students are intending on continuing onto graduate school. There’s  more financial opportunities in undergrad, so finding the most cost effective undergrad is really going to matter if you have more schooling after that.”

Among all of the advice that Ober gave, the biggest and most influential piece that she left me with was, “It’s really about being organized and doing it ahead of time as well as communicating to your guidance counselor. That’s huge.”

Applying to college may be stressful, but if you are well organized and you are willing to adapt to change, then you will be able to find a path that you are willing to explore for your future after Triton.