What do you find most stressful about the college application process??

Answer 1

Personally, I find the following aspects of the college application process to be the most challenging.

Gathering information about your prospective schools of choice (which can change almost by the minute based on what you discover about different colleges and universities throughout the research process step-by-step) at a rapid rate so as not to take too long to begin the college application process itself.

Writing the application essays takes a lot of time, careful thought and effort so as to be able to present yourself in the best light possible while covering the criteria outlined in each essay's written prompt within the required word count all the while can prove arduous if one is not a terribly confident writer or has so much to say but has to narrow it all down to fit the above requirements of each individual essay for every individual institution applied to for admission. Since fewer and fewer American colleges and universities are looking at SAT scores anymore, high school seniors are now called upon to up the ante on their writing skills when it comes to concocting solid essays that not only showcase who and what they have to offer going forward, but also reveal their literacy--all of which serve as key components for university admissions departments when carrying out their decision making processes regarding applicants' offerings year 'round.

Filling out the applications themselves can also be a tricky process since some schools' applications themselves are more straightforwardly designed and worded--online. Obtaining letters of recommendation from teachers and other adult mentors, copies of one's high school transcripts, and (if applicable) SAT scores, all in a timely manner can also prove arduous if people on the other end do not do their part in a smooth manner for any given, inexplicable reason.

Above all, the growing element of competition to get into all top-tier universities, community colleges, state colleges, and private universities, plays a profound role in incentivizing students to get a head start on the entire college application process immediately so as to (attempt to) qualify for early admission into their chosen schools and beat their peers to it in the process. Just that part alone can cause students unprecedented levels of stress in an ongoing effort to extend their educational horizons going forward. It all depends on how students respond to the competitive atmosphere when it comes to college admissions, and how well organized they are as people in order to get and keep their ducks in a row so as to put their best foot forward at all times in hopes of achieving what they intend to in the near future.