As we quickly approach the final step of the college process where we commit to a college, pressure increases for seniors at MBHS. It is a part of the college process that finalizes what you have been working so hard for throughout the past four years of high school. Although committing to a college is the most exciting part of the process, it could be the most stressful knowing that you’re committing to a college where you plan to spend the next four years of your life.

Senior Sarah Carrillo, who has not yet committed, and said she feels so “stressed out. It’s a lot to think about and it’s hard to make such a big decision that will impact the rest of my life.” When choosing a college there are ways to feel less stressed out and more confident in the college you choose.

According to The Washington Post, author Jay Matthews wrote an article titled “Stressed by choosing a College or University?” about how to ease the stress of committing to a college or university in just 5 easy tips. The first tip Matthews mentioned was that rejections are not the problem. Many students get so wrapped up in the school that they didn’t get into and ignore the fact that they got into schools that were still just as good. The second tip Matthews mentioned was that “If you don’t like the college you choose, it’s easy to get another one.”

Many students switch from one college to another based on preferences. It is okay to switch a college if you no longer like it as much as you thought you would. The next tip Matthew gives is “Your future success doesn’t depend on whether your grandmother has heard of your college.”

Researcher Stacy Berg Dale wrote a paper about student who didnt choose brand name schools to go to are making just as much money as people who choose brand name schools. It’s not about the school name that gets you places, it is your hardwork and dedication that can take you anywhere you want to be.

The fourth tip that Matthews gives is “Your college will have many Ivy League- quality students and professors.” Colleges that deny about 80% to 90% of applicants admit that there is no large difference between the applicants they accept and the ones that get denied. A lot of students in college may be Ivy League- quality but that pool of students getting into Ivy League schools is so competitive that a large number may not be accepted. The final tip would be “Whatever your mood is now, you will be happy once you ditch your parents.”

Although some students may not get accepted into their top choices, they might have got into a school that still has some features that you may absolutely love. In college you will be deciding what you do every day and in just a couple months you will be making new friends and experiencing new things in your life. Don’t stress out committing to a college just keep these five tips in mind and relax.