Dear High School Seniors across the US,

Exactly one year ago, I was a senior in high school trying to balance college apps, keeping my GPA up, being a captain of my high school's swim team, weekend fine art classes at a local college, having a part-time job, being a leader for a weekend volunteering organization, trying one more time on perfecting my SAT scores and squeezing time in with my friends and family.

I’m not going to lie, there were nights I cried myself to sleep and some nights I woke up from nightmares of not getting into college after all the time and energy I put into the application process. The stress and sleep deprivation the first semester of senior year caused me was unbearable but hey, I survived. To all the current first semester seniors out there reading this first off I want to say sorry you have to go through this. It truly is the worst part of high school but you are almost there! IT'S THE HOME STRETCH YOU CAN DO THIS!

The November first and January first deadlines will be here before you know it and I am not saying this to cause you stress because you still have five more supplements to revise… no, I am saying this because you are almost done! And no matter what happens, everything happens for a reason.

Now, some current freshmen in college might read this and scoff because they are not happy with the choice they made but I am a true believer in fate and there is a reason for everything. If you are meant to go to the school that you think is your dream school then you will go but hey maybe it’s not meant to be your dream school. Personally speaking, I did not get into my “dream school.” I must have toured at least eight times, spoke with many admissions counselors, went to every admissions event in my area and spoke with the architecture programs Dean directly and I still didn’t get in. Shockingly I got into the nation's third best school for undergraduate architecture...a school I didn’t even seriously consider for most of the application season because I assumed I had no chance of getting in.

Now, two months into college I don’t know why I considered that other school my dream school. I’ve been comparing it to Syracuse constantly and I am beyond happy I didn’t get in now. That school was too urban for me and doesn't have that traditional campus feel that Syracuse has, it also doesn’t have as many events on campus as here. Between sporting events, guest speakers, and concerts like Tove Lo, The 1975, Oh Wonder and much more I am constantly busy and I love that.

Life works in funny ways so take chances. I applied to 14 schools, which I know is a little obsessive, but in the end, I had options and that's what I wanted. Apply to as many schools as you can (I know I am contradicting your guidance counselor) but in the end, you will regret that one reach school that you took off your list. But please do me a favor and don't apply to more than 20 schools, that's overboard you won't even remember where you applied.

And two last tips-- take advantage of the application fee waivers sent to you by schools, I got sent a few and I applied to those schools just because I didn't have to pay to apply. And, don’t restrict yourself to just one area of the country. I always assumed I wouldn't be capable going to school outside of Massachusetts but I am thriving on my own-- five and a half hours away. Everyone is different, but don't hold yourself back. If there is one thing you realize looking back on senior year it's just how much you grew up from September to August.

I hope reading this taught you to have faith in fate and to stress a little less. Good luck you can do it! If you need a break from the work I suggest reading a few pages from Tina Fey's Bossypants for a good laugh.

Sincerely,

Nicolette Ganiatsos