A senior scrambles as they try to write their college essay. A junior freaks out because they did not do as great as they wanted to on the ACT. Upperclassmen alike break their backs to get college applications done early and send them out before the official application due date is passed.

As some seniors start the application process, they realize that they may not have everything that is required. Juniors may also realize that they are either short on credits or they don’t have the correct portfolio for the major. 

Most college websites suggest that students get ready for college by their junior year, and start searching for applications the summer before their senior year. 

“I would say, starting in sophomore year, you need to start thinking about what kind of college experience you might want to have. By then you’re into your academics well, you probably have a good idea of what you’re capable of, what your interests are,” counselor at GlenOak High School Kristen Zurbuch said.

There are many websites that allow students to condense their searches on colleges, one of the more popular website that many counselors recommend is Big Future, a website that is connected to the College Board.

Each process is different for each student. Some may want to be far from home, and some may want to be close. Seniors may have already narrowed down which college they are going to, and some may be searching, it is okay.

“I had to prepare myself for the chance that I could get rejected. I decided to apply test optional and didn’t submit my ACT score, so I was afraid that me not doing that would possibly make me get rejected from a school,” senior Nursing Program student Aleksandra Velickovic said.

Preparing yourself mentally for college is one of the biggest things an upperclassmen could do. The college application process can be a long and daunting process, so to be able to mentally ready yourself should be one of the most important things a student does.

Test scores are one of the major parts of the application process that seniors stress over. However, many colleges are beginning to become test optional, those standardized tests do not have to be so stressful anymore.

“If it is not an actual requirement that means the door is open wider for people to get in. But they will look at your GPA when it comes to certain things,” Kent State University at Stark Academic Program Coordinator and Rising Scholars Advisor Lester Sanders said. “I think what’s not taught enough is that everybody has different academic abilities and there are some students who do better on standardized tests than others.”

Highschool counselors are able to help prep students mentally for the application process. With more colleges becoming test optional, upperclassmen no longer have to worry about submitting a perfect score. Plus, there are different options and requirements for each school. No matter which option a student chooses, there is help out there available.