Dear Rising Seniors, DON'T BECOME INSUFFERABLE THIS YEAR 😫!

As someone who has recently finished their senior year of high school I can understand how easy it is to be sucked into the world of college admissions and prestige. But I am here to warn you, DON'T BECOME INSUFFERABLE THIS YEAR!!! If possible, try to separate your applications and admissions from your friendships and social life. Your conversations about college applications should not be more than surface level with people who are not close family members/college counselors.

I will tell you that I have experienced having to cut off a friend due to their competitiveness during the college application experience. Although my friend got into really amazing schools, they were continuously derogatory towards me because the school that I got into was one or two rankings above theirs 🙄. They asked for my college application so they could dissect and critique it , as well as made fun of the books I read because they didn't seem "academic" enough. They told me I couldn't complain about things like financial aid and housing because I "already had it figured out". At the time I didn't see it but they were truly draining my emotional wellbeing and I am warning you all not to do the same. If someone else is making a decision about college and you have an opinion PLEASE keep it to yourself (unless they ask for advice or it is a harmful decision)! Trust me, it ca be so easy to worry about where everyone else is going and how their lives are progressing, but it is much easier to focus on what you can control in your own life.

I also believe that being so obsessed with other peoples college admissions shows more of an insecurity than people understand. A lot of people will try to describe it like a quirk to make themselves look like a better person saying things like "Oh im just a nosy person, I want to see where ___ is going" or "How did _____ get into this school? Im just a nosy person I want to know their stats". You may be nosy but you have to admit, it also can stem from insecurity. The best thing that I can urge you to do if you know you will be caught up in peoples admission decisions is to GET A HOBBY. Try something new and explore what you like in your free time. Take breaks from studying and writing to see what interests you, and build on that.

But lastly HAVE FUN!! This is your senior year, and trust me, it goes by so quick. Don't be glued to your laptop screen, go out and have fun. And when I mean go out, it doesnt have to be a party or a club, go on a hike or a 10 minute walk w friends. And although college is extremely important, there is so much more to life than applications. Do something exciting and live out your dreams, but make wise decisions. Don't be afraid to set boundaries and cut people off if they get too sucked into YOUR application experience!

I can only hope you take my warning, and don't make the senior year experience worse for yourself and others. I believe in all of you!!