Editor #21
Hopeless In California, your worries are mutual. If you want to be entered in the college lottery, you must fill out—to perfection—the Common App, any supplemental work your dream college requires and scholarship forms. And just because you put your blood, sweat and tears into these forms and applications, your college admission process is not a done deal. You still must anxiously await for the college to send you back that glorious letter of acceptance or—on a heavier note—a heart-breaking rejection letter. Is this system designed to drive us crazy?
Before all of us seniors go berserk and adopt Black Flag’s “Nervous Breakdown” as our anthem, let’s get the college applications and deadlines wrapped around our fingers rather than the other way around. What’s in a college application? Well, it is nothing but SAT scores, a list of extracurriculars and awards, teacher recommendations and a few essays. This is a manageable amount of work; filling out a college application may even require less work than completing a science fair or history day project. Though getting accepted into a college is a priority during senior year, it shouldn’t completely control your life. Do not kick your friends, family and hobbies to the curb. Do not let go of the people and activities that make—and will make—you truly happy before, during and after college.
To answer the latter part of your question, you do not need to commit to a college—unless you were selected through Early Decision—if you do not truly wish to make it your home for the next four years. Keep your options open and your hopes up. If you are not selected through Early Action or Decision, then you still have another shot during Regular Decision. The easiest way to keep your stress level low is to organize yourself: know the deadlines and set aside time every day to fill out an application piece by piece. This may be your last year in Riverside, so make the most of it and keep your happiness level high.