’Tis the season...for college applications

Written by Savannah Karmen-Tuohy
Thursday, 15 December 2011 01:00

December represents the true start to the winter holiday season — festive music is playing on the radio, various decorations may be seen decking front porches and storefronts, and most everyone’s thoughts turn towards holiday gift shopping. That is, everyone except high school seniors’.

For we seniors, December brings mixed feelings. Many eagerly await the return of Early Decision applications in the ambiguous “mid-December” period during which schools mail or email applicants their admissions decisions. After that date, some can take a breather, confident in the fact that they are, in fact, into college. Others look into the not-so-distant future at the ever-looming Jan. 1 regular decision deadlines with renewed determination or resigned dread.

Because of the seemingly momentous events scheduled for the later part of December, college seniors are caught between the desire to participate in holiday festivities and the need to finish applications before the quickly approaching due dates. We have to balance family gatherings, filled with countless questions about college, with taking the time to finish up applications.

As I write this, many of my classmates have already heard back from their schools of choice. One email or letter in the mail has dictated the way they will spend their holiday break. For the lucky students who have already received good news, they are caught between the impulse to celebrate and the responsibility of consoling their friends, some of whom may not have received the decision they were hoping for. For those friends, the holiday break, normally a chance to step back from schoolwork for a few weeks, now holds hours of supplement writing and editing. Those who are deferred agonize over the question, “How can I improve in the next two weeks?” while those who were rejected during the early round of decisions turn to a longer list of schools to apply to for regular decision.

As is evident, this month is a stressful time for high school seniors. Now is the time when we really need to experience some holiday cheer. Whether it is delight at the first snow of the season, the smell of fresh pine, or the comfort of a mug of hot chocolate in their hands, the seniors around you need to experience the holiday spirit more than ever.

In the last few weeks I have adopted the mantra “Everything happens for a reason.” As cliché as it sounds, I have clung to the idea that, in all facets of life, everyone will end up where they need to be. Whether with regard to college decisions or simply the chaotic time surrounding the holiday season, everything truly happens for a reason. A corollary to this is the idea that anyone has the capability to make the best out of an unwanted situation.

While almost nothing could make this time completely stress-free, I am approaching the next few weeks with my mantra clearly in my head. It is my hope that, with this idea, I won’t be as fazed by the stresses around me, and I will be able to enjoy a happy holiday with my family. After all — ’tis the season!

Savannah Karmen-Tuohy is a senior from Greenwich at Greenwich Academy.

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