The college application process can feel overwhelming, with endless forms, essays, deadlines, and the constant weight of life-changing decisions looming overhead. During this high-pressure time, practicing self-care isn't just a luxury—it's essential for maintaining your mental health and putting your best foot forward.
Here are five practical ways to take care of yourself while navigating college admissions.
1. Create a Balanced College List
One of the most effective ways to reduce stress during college applications is ensuring you have a well-balanced college list. This means including a healthy mix of
reach
match
and “safety” schools
that align with your academic profile and personal preferences.
Many students make the mistake of applying only to highly selective institutions like Ivy League schools, which not only creates unnecessary pressure but also limits their options. Having at least one or two schools where you're highly confident of acceptance provides peace of mind and allows you to approach your other applications with less anxiety.
Take time to honestly assess whether your college list reflects this balance. If not, consider researching additional schools that match your profile and interests but have higher acceptance rates (Heads up: Most colleges in America accept over 50% of students). Knowing you'll have options regardless of how your reach applications turn out can significantly lower your stress levels.
Do you genuinely have a balanced college list? If not, check out How to Choose a College: A Step-By-Step Guide.
2. Build Your College Admissions Dream Support Team
Applying to college doesn't have to be a solo journey. Building a support network—or what some call a "College Admissions Dream Team"—can make all the difference in managing the process effectively.
Start by identifying specific areas where you need assistance, whether it's
or getting feedback on your applications.
Then, reach out with clear, specific requests to the people who can help you:
Guidance counselors can provide invaluable advice about school selection and application requirements
Teachers who know you well can write meaningful recommendation letters
Family members might help with organizational tasks or provide emotional support
Friends who are going through the same process can be accountability partners
College admission consultants or mentors, if available to you, can offer specialized guidance
When asking for help, be specific about what you need and provide reasonable timelines.
For example: "Would you be willing to review my personal statement draft by next Friday?" Being clear about your needs helps ensure you get the right support at the right time.
3. Set Boundaries Around College Application Talk
The constant barrage of questions about college plans from well-meaning friends and family can become overwhelming. Setting clear boundaries around when and how you discuss your applications can preserve your mental energy and reduce anxiety.
Consider designating specific times when college talk is off-limits, such as during meals, on weekends, or after a certain hour in the evening. You might say, "I'd be happy to update you on my applications during Sunday dinner, but I need to focus on other things during the week."
This approach gives you consistent breaks from the pressure while still keeping your support network informed. It might feel uncomfortable at first to set these boundaries, especially with eager parents or competitive peers, but protecting your mental space during this time is crucial for maintaining perspective and reducing stress.
4. Break the Process Into Manageable Steps
Looking at the entire college application process can feel paralyzing. From essay writing to requesting recommendation letters, sending test scores, researching schools, and keeping track of deadlines—there's a lot to manage.
The key to preventing overwhelm is breaking these tasks into smaller, more actionable steps:
Use a planner, digital calendar, or specialized college application tracking tool to map out all deadlines
Create a weekly schedule with specific application-related tasks
Focus on completing one task before moving to the next
Celebrate small wins along the way to stay motivated
Using organizational tools like spreadsheets to track essay prompts, deadlines, and application requirements across different schools can dramatically reduce mental clutter and help ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
By transforming the seemingly insurmountable mountain of college application work into a series of manageable hills, you'll maintain momentum without burning out.
5. Focus Only on What You Can Control
Perhaps the most important self-care practice during the college admission process is learning to distinguish between what you can and cannot control—and focusing your energy accordingly.
You can control:
Meeting deadlines
Writing thoughtful, authentic essays
Staying organized
Managing your time effectively
Taking care of your physical and mental health
You cannot control:
Admission decisions
How other applicants perform
What specific qualities a college is looking for in a given year
Unpredictable factors in the application review process
Make a physical list of the factors within your control and keep it somewhere visible. When you catch yourself worrying about admission outcomes or comparing yourself to others, gently redirect your focus to the actions you can take today to strengthen your applications.
Remember that college admissions is just one chapter in your life story. While it's important to put forth your best effort, your worth isn't determined by where you attend college, and meaningful opportunities exist at institutions of all types and selectivity levels.
Final Thoughts
The college application process is a marathon, not a sprint. By creating a balanced college list, building a support team, setting healthy boundaries, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and focusing on what you can control, you'll navigate this challenging time with greater ease and resilience.
Remember that taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's strategic. A well-rested, balanced student will create stronger applications than one who's burned out and overwhelmed. Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your college application strategy, and you'll not only survive the process but emerge stronger on the other side.
Ethan Sawyer (he/him) has been eating/sleeping/breathing college essays for most of his waking hours since 2003. He is an internationally recognized college essay and admissions expert and the author of the Amazon bestsellers College Essay Essentials and College Admission Essentials. Ethan’s educational experiences, reading, and training have informed his deep interest in storytelling as a vehicle for personal development and growth. With a passion for access and equity, Ethan has provided quality resources for students, families, and professional communities alike. He has supported thousands of students through the complicated college search and application process, all while staying true to his core values of providing ease, purpose, and joy in the process.
Andrew Simpson, CEG’s Editorial Director, has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 20 years, and earned degrees from Stanford in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops and in oceans.
Top Values: Insight/Growth | Truth | Integrity
