I’ve always been stressed at the thought of applying to college. I’ve never got into any of my school of choice when concerning elementary, middle or high school. But despite this being my junior year, this wasn’t my year to stress. I’ve been too preoccupied with SAT, AP/AICE exams to even think about where I’m going after I graduate. I’ve been so focused with the present that I have no idea where I’m applying to in the fall.

It wasn’t until after taking the SAT for the first time did the thought of applying for college became real. I overhear all my senior friends talking about where they’re going and when their freshman orientation is.

I started researching all the requirements each college has and it’s honestly overwhelming. Despite doing well academically, I still feel like I’m not good enough for any college. I feel like every college wants me to be a super teenager with a perfect G.P.A, participation in every club and involvement in every sport in existence before they even consider me.

All my life people around me has made it sound like being accepted to a college is something impossible. Now that I actually have to start applying to college, I feel completely helpless. I’ve worked hard every day to get good grades, but I still feel like I’m going to be rejected everywhere I apply.

I get told horror stories of seemingly perfect students getting rejected to their dream school because someone out there was better. It makes me doubt everything I’ve worked for.

A question I ask myself almost daily is “What if I’m not good enough for this school?” I haven’t even started applying yet, but the thought of it stresses me out.