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By Lena Pearson

For the Clemmons Courier

In your final year of high school, it feels as if every moment brings another task to add to your to-do list, as well as the overwhelming worry that your whole future must be planned out by the time you graduate.

Whether it be college applications or campus tours, there is much to navigate in this important year, but it’s perfectly normal to be unsure about where to begin. As a senior who has now received my acceptance letters, I’ve had time to reflect on my college application experience and look back on where I started. For future seniors, I’d like to share what helped me throughout this process.

The technical aspects of college applications such as the Common App or FAFSA are set with instructions to guide students through the steps, but a successful application requires more than just filling out personal information. Students are encouraged to share details about their high school careers and accomplishments they’ve made, especially through community service and extracurricular involvement. This is one of the best ways to strengthen an application, especially if a student has a passion for a certain activity or has been in a leadership position for a club or sports team. Students who are driven and passionate outside of academics are strong candidates in the application process as they demonstrate engagement in various communities as well as the ability to adapt. It’s never too late to join a new activity, but getting ahead of the curve for applications makes a difference.

Something I would advise to any student in high school, senior or not, is to form positive relationships with teachers or adult mentors in your life. Not only is it important to get along with your educators for a better learning experience, but it may come in handy when it’s time for college. The adults who have a picture of your work ethic and character, such as teachers, coaches and club sponsors are the perfect people to write your letters of recommendation when applying to schools.

Those letters give colleges an idea of you as a student as described by another educator, allowing for them to better determine an acceptance status. Giving your recommender plenty of time before the application is due is ideal, as well as choosing someone who you know well. Recommendation letters from an adult that recognizes your best traits, accomplishments and attitude towards education may be the cherry on top that makes your application stand out.

My final piece of advice can’t be summarized as a singular tip, but an attitude to have when navigating this busy period of your life. I began my senior year without an idea of what I planned to do after high school or what college I wanted to attend, but months later, I can see how far I’ve come. The most important thing to remember throughout this process is that there is room for uncertainty and you don’t need to have it figured out all at once. Being unsure is part of the journey of determining your goals, and most students will be met with this same feeling when the college search begins. If I could do it all over again, I would worry less about not knowing what I wanted, as the plans will come together as you move along.

While this process is incredibly daunting and may feel like the decisive factor of your entire future, it’s important to keep yourself grounded. Through the stress, the best ways to stay on track as a senior are to be involved, form connections, take your time through applications, and be patient. When beginning applying to colleges, consider these tips to make your experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.