Throughout our years of education, students are treated how we, for the most part, should be—like children. 

However, at some point between junior and senior years, the coin is flipped. Suddenly, we’re supposed to do it all: college applications, scholarship applications, ACT retakes, and much more. At the same time, we are supposed to figure out what we want to do for the rest of our lives. 

The dream of college is put into students’ minds as young as elementary school. Many students are taught that college is the only option for their future, and anything else is unacceptable.

Don’t get me wrong—going to college is not a bad thing. Statistics show that those with a bachelor’s degree average more than double earnings compared to those with just a high school diploma.

It is not the idea of college that is the problem. It is the fact that, despite constant nudging to go to college, we are not pushed to actually begin the process until the last minute.

That poses the question: who is supposed to push us?

Our first resource is our parents as they are the main ones driving towards the college route. However, many seniors are first-generation college students. Meaning, parents don’t have the experience to properly help their children apply to college.

The next source for senior students is the school itself. More specifically, the counselors. 

There is one glaring problem with this: between academic concerns, mental health concerns, and the countless other responsibilities they have, it is safe to assume that school counselors also have trouble finding time to prepare seniors for college.

While we do the best with what we are given, seniors often feel overwhelmed with the senior year checklist thrust upon us.

Luckily, there is one clear solution: push students to start the process sooner.

It may seem early, but explaining the college application process and recommended number of colleges to apply to during students’ freshman year can be extremely beneficial. This way, students that wish to go to college will likely have an idea of where they plan to go, which gets one decision out of the way ahead of time.

In a non-pandemic year, students might also want to consider touring colleges as early as freshman or sophomore year, as a way to weed out the colleges they do not like the general vibe of. 

One thing pushed heavily is the importance of tests like the ACT and SAT. However, similar to other things previously mentioned, we are not pushed to take it until junior year. Beginning to take these tests in freshman and sophomore years would not only give us more time for retakes, but time to know our final scores earlier, which can also help students weed out schools.

Students should be pushed earlier to prepare for college and all of the steps that go with it in order to eliminate the most stress possible during senior year.