To my seniors,

As you begin college application season, which can arguably be more stressful than any other season (including flu season), I write this letter to you to so that you keep some things in mind.

Don't stress about what school you will end up at. Seriously. This can be exceedingly difficult, I understand, but the reality of the application process is that you'll end up at college. You may not end up at your first or second choice, but you will definitely end up at a place where you can succeed. I know that all of you can live out your life to its fullest potential for the next four years at any school. Any school you look at will have a library, a student body, classes, and a social scene. You're not looking for your soulmate; there are MANY places that are right for you, not just one. You will be happy at a multitude of schools. You'll end up with a degree. It will all be okay.

Start working on applications now. Get your college essay going, start filling out supplements. If you're at home chilling out on a Saturday morning, why not get ahead and finish your profile on the Common App? It'll seriously help you feel less stressed in the long run. You'll be happy.

In the spirit of getting things done early, it is most definitely in your best interest to apply Early Action to any school that offers it. It is non-binding and will let you know early on, around November-January, if you've been accepted, deferred, or rejected. It's a sure way to narrow down your Regular Decision schools and make the process a little less hectic.

As someone who did it themselves, it is also in my opinion that Early Decision is always the way to go if you know for sure that you have a favorite school. If you wouldn't pick ANY other school over *insert top school here* then there is little downside to applying Early Decision, if such school offers the option. One thing to keep in mind is that Early Decision is binding so make sure that you are 110% confident before checking off the "ED" box. If that school accepts you, you can retract any Regular Decision applications you've already sent and end your application process there. My college application season was over by December 10th, which made applying Early Decision most definitely worth it.

If you are someone who is unsure of your top school, no worries! Apply Early Action to as many places as possible, but send your applications through the Regular Decision process.

Visit any friends you have that are already in college.I give this piece of advice not just to be selfish and beg my senior friends to visit me (even though they definitely need to visit me), but to advise you to experience as much of college life before you are actually in college as you can. Okay, don't live at your friend's school while you should be enjoying your last year of high school, but definitely dip your toe in and see what college will be like. This way, you can find out what parts of attending school you like the most. Is it actually cooler than you thought to attend a school that's in or close to a city? Is attending a school with a core curriculum a deal breaker for you? Does your friend's social life sound like something you'd want for your college experience?

It isn't totally necessary, but is super helpful to get a taste of undergraduate life from friends who are actually already experiencing it. They can give you the inside tips that you might not get from a standard college tour.

Most of all, enjoy senior year. You'll miss having lunch with your best friends, you'll miss the cheesy pep rallies, you'll miss the fairs, and you'll definitely miss the local ice cream shop. So get excited about what lies ahead, but don't forget to embrace and enjoy the present.