After spending their summer on writing college essays and deciding what schools to apply to, seniors who took advantage of the Nov 1st deadline should be relieved. But unfortunately the work isn’t over and now comes the wait.

November 1st is generally the date that students must submit their college applications if they want to take early action. This can be stressful for students to get all of their applications finished by then.

“It does put pressure on kids. For one, to have applications done but also to know where you’re applying. I think January 1st gives a lot more time to look at schools… You have to do a lot of work in the summer,” Mr. Brandon Turner from the College and Career Center stated.

It takes a lot of planning and hard work to get to the point of completing the applications. Senior Ella Broadhurst dealt with this first-hand.

“I tried to get all of my primary schools and schools I was really interested in before Nov 1st. I am fortunate enough to have a college counselor who helps me tremendously with the various essays and short answers I had to do… I still don’t know exactly where I want to go to school so I’m trying to keep my options open. With that said I’m applying to over 16 schools. My approach was to get all the important schools in before November 1st,” Broadhurst explained.

For seniors this process is very time consuming. As a result, it can take away time from other things, like school. Broadhurst, as well as Senior Liv McGuirman, felt this firsthand.

“I have focused so much more on my applications and getting them done rather than like my math homework or something just as simple as that. So the stress has definitely impacted my grades,” McGuirman said.

“The stress of my college applications definitely impacted my school work. Times I felt I should be studying or doing homework I was getting my applications in. I feel this is the case for every senior applying to colleges right now but it is definitely manageable,” Broadhurst stated.

But having their applications in and sent to their colleges has lifted some weight off their shoulders.

“If you apply early action, the advantage is that you’ll hear back before the holiday break…That’s the biggest thing, you apply and then you get to hear back sooner,” Turner explained.

“It is relieving to have a good portion of my applications in. Although I’m not done yet because I am applying to so many schools I feel as if I have a lot of stress off my shoulders because I’ve already gotten the hard work done,” Broadhurst stated.

Even though their applications are in, that doesn’t mean everything is done.

“In that time they are filling out their FAFSA forms which are federal aid and waiting to hear back from schools….Then at some point I’d say like December or January kids will really start switching towards scholarships.” Turner stated.

The students agree that work still needs to be done.

“I applied for scholarships for all the schools I applied for and then got emails back for honors college so I applied for that. And then for the bigger schools I applied to, like West Virginia, I already paid the academic deposit.” McGuirman explained.

The pressure of finishing up all the applications is gone but it still doesn’t leave the seniors completely care-free.

“I’m definitely anxious, you still get emails for the schools all the time because you applied…When you get those emails it’s like ‘Oh my God did that application come in’ even if it did I hesitate to open it because I’m scared.” McGuirman stated.

“I am definitely super stressed about hearing whether I get admitted to these colleges. It feels good to know I tried my hardest on all my applications and I’m hopeful that colleges will see that. I try not to think about it on a day to day basis and just wait for the answer but it is definitely really hard not to,” Broadhurst explained.

It took a lot of time and consideration to be able to meet the November 1st deadline. Seniors definitely felt that stress but their hard work will be repaid eventually when they hear back from their schools.