Dear high school senior,

You are stressed. You are unsure. You are excited, but you are nervous. You have many decisions to be making right now, and one very big one, which will be your next 4 years and shape your future-- the college decision.

The time that college acceptance letters come out is the most stressful time of senior year.

Let me just tell you, it will all work out. You will be accepted to the schools that you should be and denied from the ones you wouldn't accelerate at. Your dream school might not see the potential in you, but if they can't see it, then you don't want to go there anyway.

You hear the people around you talking about whether they got accepted or denied from the same school you applied to, you hear people saying they already know where they are going, and then you hear the voice in your head, you are so unsure.

When receiving your acceptance letters, take it with a grain of salt.

Yes, it may limit your options, but yes, there is a reason. Choose the school out of your options that you can see yourself most at. Do not base it on it's reputation, whether it's "such an amazing" or "sick" school, but rather one you can see yourself succeeding at.

Take into consideration the size of the campus, the student population, the extracurriculars offered, the academics, and the location.

Take into consideration the things that matter.

Do not worry about what number it is ranked in the country, what other people tell you to do, what other students think, but take into consideration what matters -- what you feel is right for you.

So as you are now approaching the middle of your senior year, take a deep breath. Accept those college offers with a grain of salt, and choose where you best belong.

It will all work out.

Sincerely,

A college student who has been through the process