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I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders when I clicked submit on my college application. My late nights procrastinating and scouring TikTok for advice were over. I could finally rest and enjoy my senior year. However, I soon realized I wasn’t free just yet as the stress of waiting for decisions was about to begin.

The months after you submit your application are often filled with anxious anticipation. Staying productive helped me relieve stress while I awaited decisions. Here are some things that kept me grounded. 

1. Apply for financial aid and scholarships

Apply for financial aid and scholarships to help alleviate the burden of paying for school. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, or the California Dream Act Application, known as CADAA, by March 2 to see if you qualify for aid. There are also outside scholarships not awarded by a specific school that provide funds for students to use for college. Ask your high school’s counselor about local ones. You never know what you might get, so it never hurts to apply. 

2. Create your student admission accounts

Don’t wait to create your student admission account for all the schools you applied to. It’s a lot of emails to enter and passwords to create, but it ensures that you receive all the important information you need — this includes decisions. It only takes a few minutes, so don’t put it off too long. It’s also a necessary step to see financial aid offers schools might award you. 

3. Keep up with academics

Senioritis hits hard, but unfortunately your senior year grades still matter, so don’t let them drop now. Colleges look at your fall semester grades in the application and they check your spring semester grades to make sure you complete all requirements. Additionally, continue to study for any Advanced Placement, known as AP, or dual-enrollment courses you might take. These classes help you earn valuable credits, which can lower costs and satisfy general education requirements when you get to college. 

4. Prepare to visit schools

You’ll need to choose a school when admission decisions are released. Visit a college campus to make that choice easier. Campus tours show you what living on campus is like. Make sure to check out the dorms, classrooms and the surrounding town. Many schools offer virtual tours to view those same spaces at your own pace and from far away, if you are unable to visit in person. 

Oftentimes, things just click when you step onto a campus. That happened to me when I first came to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis on Aggie Day — 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis’ admitted student celebration day. I knew right away that I wanted to go here.  

Remember to relax

The hardest part of the admissions process is the effort required to write your essays, gather your extracurriculars and sum up your entire life into a single application. Now that you hit submit, don’t forget to relax. Spend time with your friends, participate in school events and try new things. Enjoy the last few months of senior year and look forward to the exciting next chapter you’re about to start.