Letters from Universities - How to Stay Sane!

[Storyteller.]

Letters from Universities - How to Stay Sane!
By Robin (PSY)

You have been a student for most of your life. There has never been a time when you haven't had to stress over homework assignments and final exams. Looking ahead, you see yourself going on to undergraduate or graduate school... if you have what it takes. That's right – it's March, and letters from universities will be arriving soon! Whether you're about to earn your high school diploma or your bachelors degree, take a look at these tips for staying sane throughout the entire process!

Place a limit on how often you check your e-mail every day. Ten years ago, all letters of acceptance or rejection arrived via “snail mail”. As a result, students only had one opportunity per day to check for these letters. Nowadays, universities may send acceptance or rejection notices via e-mail instead, at any given time on any given day. While this may seem great at first (who wants to wait 3-5 days for a letter to arrive?), it can also lead to more stress over when e-mails will arrive and what they will say. If you have a “smart phone”, you may end up checking your e-mail throughout the day – sometimes even during class or while hanging out with friends! Don't let your impatience affect your grades or social life. Pick a few specific times to check your e-mail (ex. When you wake up, during lunch, before going to sleep), then carry on with your life as usual.

Keep yourself busy while waiting for the good (or bad) news. Uncertainty about the future may cause you to fall behind on class work or other commitments. While it certainly doesn't hurt to plan ahead, simply sitting around all day and waiting to hear back from universities won't allow you to be productive. If you've been putting off a homework assignment for a few days, take the opportunity to complete it now! If you find yourself staring at a computer screen for hours on end, refreshing the “check for new mail” button, consider joining a club or organization to pass the time. Not only will this help take your mind off of universities, but it will allow you to have fun (and possibly learn something new about yourself!).

Plan ahead, regardless of what the outcome may be. If you expect to receive an acceptance letter, start thinking about how you're going to pay for four more years of schooling. Apply for grants and scholarships. Look into student loan programs. Some of these financial applications are due before you even hear back from the university – so don't wait until April or May to get started! If you're going to need a little more financial support, start applying for summer jobs in your hometown (or look for job opportunities at or near your prospective university). Determine whether you would want to live at home and commute, or move on-campus and walk to classes. If you feel your chances of getting into college this time around are slim to none, start planning for the following year and what you can do to make yourself a more attractive candidate. You may want to enroll in community college and find a job that is relevant to your future career. Consider talking to your school guidance counselor, or even an academic advisor at your prospective university, and discussing how you can improve your chances of being accepted the following year.

Talk to your family members and friends. When dealing with situations that are beyond your control, you may be tempted to say, “No one can help me.” That's simply not true! You can still count on your loved ones for a quick hug or words of encouragement during this stressful time. Your parents or older siblings may have gone to college, so they can relate to what you're going through. Your friends may also be stressing out over acceptance and rejection letters, so talking to people who are currently dealing with the same problem may prove comforting for you.