Anxious about Admissions?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m writing my common app essay and supplementals right now, and I’m getting very anxious about my admissions. My high school is very competitive and all people ever talk about are grades and scores. I always compare myself to other people who have better gpas or scores than me, and then I lose hope that I’ll get a good admission. How do I calm myself down and not compare myself to others all the time?

2

It’s hard not to think about it all year long, but I would continue to work hard and think to yourself that the Universe tends to unfold as it should. Good luck.

Edit: Opps sorry, I posted a response in the HS forum. My apologies.

3

A few comments:
–As long as you applied to a good mix of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be excited to attend then you should be fine.
–It is a terrible idea to keep comparing and judging yourself to those around you. It is a recipe for a miserable life. The idea is to be the best you that you can be in all aspects of your life.

4
  1. This is one particular time in your life where this will happen. Everyone is talking about grades and scores and colleges and where you want to go and where you got in.
  2. Soon nobody will care. “State U? Great school.”
  3. There are 3000+ colleges in the USA…one is right for you.
  4. What other people want in a college doesn’t have to be what you want. Some want to be close. Some far. Some want Big Football. Some want small LAC. Some want a particular major. Some need affordability. Some want to be a big fish in a small pond. Some want the opposite.
  5. Feel free to be vague…“Oh I am applying to a variety of schools”…“Looking at LACs in Eastern PA” “Checking out Big 10 schools”
  6. Consider applying to a rolling admission college so you have at least one acceptance early
  7. I have seen many examples of students who got into a top school…like a Cornell or what have you…but they ended up being that smaller fish in that big pond and it wasn’t the right environment for them. Or they realized they couldn’t afford it.

It is much more important to find what fits YOU and not what other people think is the best. This gives you the best chance of graduating.

Also in life, there is always someone smarter/faster/richer than you. All you can do is be the best you that you can be.

Here is an article about why it is better to be a big fish in a small pond in college:
https://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwells-david-and-goliath-2013-10

So I am not saying you can’t/won’t get into a top college, but the above article is why it might be better not to.