College is often seen as something to better yourself, but what do you do when college absolutely terrifies you? Do you keep going through with it, even though the massive anxiety inducing weight causes your mental health to deteriorate? Do you just not go and give up on all your dreams? Well, here's some tips I learned being a senior in high school when you don't get much advice and you have to make your own way through it.
Tip 1.
Find your dream college. Now, everyone says going to your dream college is the best option, and honestly, they're right. You hear stories about kids randomly selecting colleges, and then hating the campus and wasting their money. You also hear stories about kids who have a dream college, fall in love with the campus, and have a wonderful college experience. You can decide what way you would prefer, but I think we all know we would prefer the success story over the disaster story.
Tip 2.
Apply to the college. This may seem like a no-brainer, but coming from someone who used to believe that college was useless and unnecessary to personal success, this is a major step. Even if you never believed that college was useless, you probably have some doubts about your abilities as a student, and thus could easily benefit by being proven wrong when the college of your dreams accepts you.
Tip 3.
Look for scholarships right away. I know many people who want to wait until they receive their FAFSA grade before trying to apply for scholarships. DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!! It's very important to apply for scholarships, and even if you end up not using them all that's ok. You are better safe than sorry, especially when education is so expensive.
Tip 4.
Keep in touch with the college if you have any questions. If you're like me, and you constantly worry about every deadline, being in touch with the college is a godsend. You can easily email someone in admissions and ask the questions you have. They will always reply, and often will have links to more information.
Tip 5.
Take some deep breaths and relax at times. College is stressful. Always remember to take some breaks and take some deep breaths and focus on yourself.
Tip 6.
Your grades matter, but so do the classes you take. If you take that hard math class and get a C that's perfectly ok. Don't beat yourself up over every little grade, just try your best and you will succeed.
Life is scary. So is college. Many people manage do it every year, and every year it will get easier. It's just like being a freshman in high school. You're lost and confused, but you get the hang of it eventually.
