Many will say the fourth quarter of senior year is the best time to be in high school. College applications have finally been sent in, and the weight of deciding their next steps in life is finally lifted. Current sophomores and juniors now enter the most nerve-wracking time for many high schoolers because it feels as though any slip-up could result in the destruction of any future at all.

We all dread the questions that family members ask on repeat: “Where are you going to college? Hmm, do you really think you’d get in?” The fact that a person’s entire life is in the hands of their dinky teenage self is pretty scary to think about.

Luckily, there are several strategies to make the entire pre-college experience a lot smoother for underclassmen and juniors. It’s hard to know where to start, considering how daunting the entire process appears from the outside. There are three key things to keep in mind: preparatory work, personal preferences, and research.

Preparatory work

One of the most important things to consider before considering college is what type of work you’re willing to put in. “Some people are like, ‘I’ll apply to the school just for fun’, but then it’s like, three more… essays,” said senior Snowden Baughn, who is committed to Lewis and Clark College in Oregon.

It’s also important to note that the first years of high school will have an impact on where you may get in, so thinking ahead early on will give you a huge advantage. Baughn said, “Think about what classes you’re taking earlier, especially if you’re earlier in high school and planning out what you’re going to take in future years… like running start versus taking AP classes.”

Preparation in high school is one of the key components to ensuring success when applying, as it will likely allow you to get into more schools. This will ensure you will have options for when you finally commit.

Personal preferences

If you aren’t sure where to even apply, it will be very unclear how much effort will be needed for the process. “It’s important to know how far you want to be [and] how much you’re really willing to spend on school,” said Nathan Serwold, a senior committed to Washington State University.

Keeping in mind the financial aspects of a university is extremely important before deciding to apply to schools, as well as the location and campus. After all, this is the place you are going to live for the next few years, so it’s important that you feel comfortable.

Baughn mentioned that school size was a crucial part of the college experience to be aware of. Small versus large classes will have a dramatic impact on your education, and depending on your learning style, either one could be extremely helpful or detrimental to your experience. So, before applying, be sure that most of the colleges fit your criteria.

Research

The most important thing for everyone to remember before even making a list is to do your research thoroughly. This will help you discover which schools’ campuses draw you in, which programs you may be interested in, and what the application process looks like for each.

“I think one of the most important things for me was going to those career center visits…it helps you get an understanding of what schools there are [and] what’s available to you,” said Serwold. Getting to know people who work at a school directly can give you a sneak peek in what you may be signing up for. Each school can seem incredibly similar online, but speaking to real people may give you insight about what makes their school special and why you should be interested.

Those lists you have on your fridge with 30-plus colleges can be narrowed down by visiting schools in person, which is something both Baughn and Serwold recommend. Seeing a campus in person will give you a different perspective and will most likely surprise you, regardless of what you have seen online.

As our beloved seniors approach a long-awaited freedom, sophomores and juniors continue to dread the upcoming months of stress and anxiety. What once felt so far away and unreal is beginning to haunt Shorewood students. “Don’t stress out,” said Baughn reassuringly. “It will be fine.”