the college apps game

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, an 18 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: the college apps game ✍️ 

i know it’s that time of the year again. college apps. major stress. endless drafts and reworked supplemental essays. i was in the same boat last year, but i’m going to rapid fire some quick mindsets/strategies i used that made the process a lot less stressful.

fortunately, i was blessed to receive great results, but i’m equally happy that i was able to enjoy my senior year of high school, and not tie my worth to an acceptance letter. 📨

1. what is your realistic worst case scenario?

the mindset that was singlehandedly responsible for eliminating most of my stress during application season was internalizing that my worst case scenario for where i would go for college, was actually a fantastic option. looking at my profile, i knew i would definitely be accepted to attend ubc, and i love ubc. that alone brought me a lot of peace, and i made sure to submit an application that truly highlights that profile.

2. make a plan for writing all of your applications.

something i did before starting any application last year was making a database on notion filled with both school and scholarship application deadlines, and set reminders for each. at the start of each month, i was able to easily chalk in which applications i wanted to power through, and which to prioritize for later on. the beginning is overwhelming with so many deadlines. organizing and prioritizing so that you can make a plan is very helpful.

3. get feedback and iterate.

even if you’re super proud of an essay you wrote, chances are you might have a major flaw in your writing or overlooked a key component. get feedback from people you trust, and complete strangers. even better: get feedback from someone that actually got into that program or received the scholarship you’re applying to. i did this, and was able to gain a lot of unique insights on the school culture that i could incorporate into my essays. ✍️

4. don’t get emotionally attached to a school or program.

this is a hard one. going into senior year, i didn’t really have a dream school. this was so beneficial for my mental health. it’s easy to get attached to a program, and then tie a lot of self-worth to it. you can submit the most amazing application known to the world, but at some point, admissions honestly become a lottery, so don’t beat yourself up over it.

5. be for real about your college list (something i wish i did better)

remember how i assured myself of my worst case scenario being an amazing option? well, i still kind of let paranoia get the best of me and still applied to way too many programs that i wouldn’t have chosen over ubc sauder or science. like, way more than necessary. in hindsight, i should have only applied to 2 other programs i was near guaranteed to accepted into (safety schools). remember, you should still genuinely like the programs you’re applying to as safeties.

6. still say yes to hanging out with friends.

it’s senior year! make that application plan, but still say yes to plans with friends. as long as you manage your time well, you genuinely will have your best year of high school. ❤️

7. forget about it, LOL.

congrats, you have now finished all of your applications! it was a long ride, with countless hours poured into it. now, forget about it! mulling and stressing over what ifs won’t do anything. leave your applications in the admissions committees’ hands, and live your life. even if your friends are getting acceptance letters, just be confident that yours is coming soon. :)

to all the seniors drowning in stress right now, you got this. it’s going to be so worth it. 🤞 

as always, i’m here if you want to vent or seek advice on your applications. :)

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