As the first semester is beginning to close, seniors across the country are consuming their time with the dreaded college application process. Between deadlines, essays, and transcripts, many seniors are struggling to find time to actually enjoy their last year of high school. Here are some tips for you seniors you help you de-stress through the college application process.

1. Determine your strengths and play to them: After three years of high school, you’re bound to have a plentiful list of compelling experiences and achievements to draw upon and show college admissions officers what a strong candidate you are.
2. Don’t spread yourself too thin: Perhaps the biggest feat of all is successfully dividing your time between college applications and high school course work. It is crucial to figure out a personal strategy that will allow you to do both, perhaps by tackling small tasks weekly rather than attempting to manage everything all at once.
3. Smart Schedule: The strenuous process of applying to colleges only increases your workload. And, if you’re already involved in playing sports, leading clubs, or dealing with schoolwork, you may feel crunched for time – which is probably bound to add to your anxiety. This is why it can be so important to consider scheduling “down days” on your calendar – days on which you have no responsibilities. Also, think about allowing yourself several days in between college visits; use that time to reflect on your visit with a parent or counselor about questions you may have, or observations you made.

And with that, I wish you luck throughout the rest of this semester and through your college admissions journey. College applications don’t have to be so daunting after all.