College apps season has been going on…
and as my classmates have been discussing and comparing their test scores and extracurriculars, the stress has only been piling on. I’ve been going through periods of confidence and extreme happiness about being a senior, with long stretches of self-doubt, regretting that I didn’t have any guidance on what extracurriculars to do, and extreme sadness in general-- to the extent that I am losing motivation for applying to any of my dream schools, at all.
What are some ways to handle losing inspiration and motivation due to having an inferiority complex, during the college apps process?
You be you.
You took classes you were interested in and put forth an effort that you wanted to do.
You did ECs or not as you wanted to.
There is a college for you.
When you say Dream School…what does that mean? You may dream of Princeton…but if you have 1200 SAT and a 3.7, that is not a realistic dream. But what it is about Princeton, say, that makes it desirable? Figure that out and apply to those schools.
Don’t think “well, if i only knew about Science Olympiad or model UN I could have done that and gotten into Princeton.”
You could do all that and have a 1600/4.0 and still not get into Ivy League schools.
Still apply for at least one of those dream schools…just so you did and didn’t regret not trying.
There are 3000 colleges in the USA…You have only heard of a few. But there are many that will be a good fit TO YOU…you are worried about why didn’t you fit yourself to your “dream schools”.
Definitely try talking to your Guidance Counselor or a trusted teacher…they will tell you what a great person you are! Don’t let a college that doesn’t know you influence what you think about yourself.
No matter what you do there will be someone who will get a job you wish you had, or a college or a house or a spouse… don’t spend energy being jealous.
Also use this knowledge when you get to college…you can talk to your advisor or professors and say “I want to be able to get a job in “major”…what are the things I should be doing to make that happen?” and they might tell you to join the Major club and go to the summer college fair before your sophomore year and to do research in your area etc.
My kids felt aLOT better when they got early acceptances. Having a few sure things, maybe with merit money really takes off the stress. It’s a long haul to March and April. Doing some research on schools that would love to have you and making sure you show some interest in them, finding some of those hidden jewels is too often a part of college search that is skipped. It can be most rewarding.