With the fall season comes colder weather, warm drinks, and layered clothes. In school, however, comes the year’s first wave of difficult assignments, long nights of homework, and, for seniors, college applications. It is not until you’re going through it yourself that you realize how exhausting the college process is. This year, it is the Class of 2026’s turn to find out just how difficult, yet rewarding, it can be. 

Three previous years of hard work are confined to one paper that gets submitted to your dream school, along with a letter of recommendation, a test score, and an essay that gives you one shot to tell these strangers who you are. 

It is hard to walk the hallways and sit in class without hearing whispers amongst your peers about applications, fees, deadlines, dream schools, and recommendations. 

There are three main types of college applications. First is early decision, which is a binding application. This means once you apply (at an earlier date than regular decision) and potentially get accepted, you are required to attend that school. There is also early action, which shows interest in a particular school, without being bound to it. Finally, there is regular decision, you apply with no fixed deadline, and are given more flexibility. 

Whilst many people apply early, and to several schools, don’t let this pressure you! The college application process is already stressful enough. It is best that you go into this process with optimistic thoughts, keep an eye on deadlines, and take a deep breath. 

When it is all said and done, and decision day arrives in May, you will undoubtedly look back on your high school experience and be grateful for all the hard work that paid off.