In the week leading up to the holiday break, one would expect the Bedford High School halls to buzz with plans for vacation and a decrease in stress levels.
However, all around the high school, one topic also loomed large: seniors who applied to college “early decision” received their responses.
Early decision is an admission process in which a student applies to a college or university and agrees to enroll if they are accepted. In return, the student receives a decision on their application earlier than they would through regular admission.
Early decision is a popular method to apply to the colleges students love with around 20 percent of all Bedford seniors applying this way, according to the counseling office.
The advantage of early decision is that it allows a student to receive an admissions decision sooner, which can help them make their college plans with more certainty.
This writer conducted interviews with some current seniors who applied for early decision.
All of the students who were interviewed reported feeling high levels of stress during the process. When asked to rate their stress on a scale of 1-10, none of them scored lower than a seven. However, when asked about stress from their family and peers, most students rated that stress as relatively low, with an average score of four out of 10.
The students were asked where most of their stress came from. Several themes emerged, but there was no single reason for the added stress.
The theme of viewing college as a necessary step in their career was shared by most of the students. One student in particular felt that if they did not get into one of the colleges they wanted, the rest of their life would be ruined.
Another senior, who wished to remain anonymous, said the reason for their stress came from the type of college they applied to. This student applied to a senior military college, which prepares students for a career in the army while also helping them earn a degree in their chosen field.
There are only six of these colleges in the US, and this student felt immense pressure to get into one. This student also said that the entire application process took time away from their regular school work, adding to their stress.
Another common theme among the students was the importance of prestige in the college they chose. Lulu Steele expressed this fear well, saying, “I put pressure on myself that if I pick a school that I like but may not be as good academically that I may not get as good of an education as my friends.”
Not all college search processes are the same, and Sydney Cox is a prime example. Throughout the process, she said she had one goal in mind: to be able to play soccer in college.
Thus, her college search began in her freshman year, earlier than most students. As a result of her focus on sports, she has already committed to playing soccer at Fairfield University, the only school she applied to. She said that she was relieved her search was over and that she only had to complete one application.
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