Now that college applications are in, The Willistonian is curious how seniors will cope with the upcoming waiting period.

Some students at Williston have already heard results from their first-choice schools if they applied Early Decision 1 (EDI) in early November. Those students who were rejected joined others in the second and final round of applications due the first week of January. Students applied either ED II, Early Action (EA), regular decision, or a combination of the three. The majority will not hear back until mid-February, and some as late as April.

This is a stressful time for any senior. Even those who have already been accepted face the pressures of keeping their grades up.

Senior Sara Renkert was recently accepted to Tufts University. She gave insight to some of her fears that still exist.

“While being accepted is a relief, there are still fears and stresses,” she said. “I still have to keep my grades up, the work here doesn’t stop. The hardest part is staying present here.”

Sara said she’s “used to living away from home, but living in a new environment is going to be scary, and obviously the academics will ramp up.”

For the seniors who have yet to be accepted, the waiting game is the biggest challenge now that applications are complete. Everything is out of their hands now. The knowledge that they have done everything they can is somewhat comforting, but the lack of control can be nerve wracking. This stretch of time also leaves seniors wondering what they could have done better or how their applications could have been made stronger.

Shirley Zhou, also a member of the class of 2018, is waiting on acceptances to multiple schools.

“There is anxiety in not being sure what news I’ll get from the schools I applied to,” she says. Shirley has a backup plan if the news is bad. “I already have an offer from my Early Action school, so I know I have options” she explained. When asked how she is coping in the meantime, Shirley said she and her friends are leaning on each other for support, and her parents are keeping her optimistic.

Nerves run even higher for those students who have yet to get into any schools. Senior Oskar Lee discussed the reality of not getting in to a top choice school.

“It’s different when someone else doesn’t get in and you can be positive and reassuring, but when it actually happens to you it’s entirely different,” he said. While Oskar’s fear is not getting into his first choice, he remains positive by keeping in mind that there will be other options and it is rare to not be accepted into at least one college.

College Counselor Mrs. McDowell guides seniors through the college process from suggesting schools based on her knowledge of each individual, to submitting applications by January. She offered up her advice on coping with the uneasiness seniors are currently experiencing.

“To me it’s a rite of passage,” she stated. “You’ve done everything you can as far as academics, applications, and writing. The scary part is it’s now in their [the college’s] hands which is where all the anxiety comes from.”

When asked what she advises seniors to do in the meantime, McDowell recommended “going back to the things you can control. Do your work, stay on task, occupy your time with good things.” She encouraged leaning on friends and advisors for extra support.