November 1st is a fast-approaching deadline that has many seniors pulling their hair out. Not only do these students have to meet all of their in-school due dates for the end of the marking period, but the vast majority of early action college applications have a strict deadline on the same day. Some students are still preparing to take the SAT on November second or later. Many study for weeks or even months on end for this test thus making burnout a very real possibility.  Though plenty of students aren’t applying early to college, there is still the upcoming concern of getting college applications in by the various regular decision deadlines. Beyond that is the anxiety-inducing waiting game of finding out whether they got into their top schools. Then, of course, comes the financial aspect of higher education. More and more students are resigning themselves to going wherever they’ll receive the most financial aid, but the numbers often fall short of what students expect. 

SAT scores, an essential part of applying to many colleges, are still rolling in. The October scores were released about a week ago and students taking the November test won’t receive their scores until the 15th. Though some students prepare effectively and don’t have any concerns, many are quick to freak out and obsess over upcoming test dates. Such stress causes students to resort to a study tactic as old as time—procrastination. Oftentimes students put off studying for the SAT as it seems too daunting a task, but this leads to cram studying just before the exam which oftentimes doesn’t turn out quite the way students hope. Applicants’ procrastination isn’t just for SAT studying either, it applies to the whole process. Senior Evan McDonald commented, “I feel behind—like I should’ve done this like a month ago and I didn’t and now I’m paying the price.” He is far from alone as many other students are in exactly the same boat.

Getting into college is all well and good, but it doesn’t count for anything if one can’t afford it. Students’ options are very limited when it comes to paying for college if they aren’t lucky enough to earn scholarships that make it doable for them. Oftentimes students themselves have to bear the financial burden of a college education unless their parents have set aside enough money to cover it. Many West Bloomfield students fall into the category of having parents that make too much money for them to qualify for financial aid but too little money to pay for their kid’s college themselves. This puts students in a sticky situation. Some have considered becoming emancipated minors to ensure that they’re given financial aid from the government. This underlines the desperation many students feel when it comes to finding the money to fund their college education.

The most stressful part of college applications for the majority of students is the dreaded essay. Colleges usually require students to write and submit at least one essay through the Common App database. Some students like Ariella Beecham report that they are feeling good about their applications, but others are experiencing a different reality. Many students are scrambling to fit their entire personality—or at least the parts they think colleges will like—in 650 words or less—a pretty daunting task for even the best of writers. On top of that, there are some colleges that require even more essays specific to that school. Just thinking of what to write about in the first place has many students wishing they could forget about the whole thing. Such stress is taking a serious toll on students’ mental health. Put simply, senior Lynn Barber said, “I wanna cry.” Other students report more serious unhealthy behaviors like stress eating as a result of the college application process. As of 2022, the Princeton Review claimed that 76 percent of high school students experienced high stress due to college applications. This number was an increase from 57 percent in 2003. The significant increase in student stress levels has raised a lot of recent concern.  

Though there are plenty of reasons for students to be worried for the next few months, there are just as many reasons for students’ nerves to be quelled. According to the Princeton Review, “85 percent of students are awarded financial aid.” This means that realistically, students have a great chance of a significant portion of their college expenses being taken care of.  The Princeton Review also stated, “more than three-quarters of college applicants get into their first-choice schools.” All those students concerned with whether or not they’re going to get into their favorite colleges can be comforted that they are actually quite likely to receive an acceptance from their dream school. Additionally, if the SAT is a point of concern, today’s students are lucky to be living in a day and age where many schools are test optional. With all of these comforts, hopefully this year’s college applicants will soon be able to look up to a brighter tomorrow.