As we begin the new school year, B-CC seniors are starting to feel the stress of college applications. The Common Application opened on the first of August, and since then, it has been a race to the finish line. The deadline for most college applications is November 1st, though the submission dates vary based on the school and decision types.
Managing school along with the various college application assignments can be a huge struggle for many seniors. Ashley Payne, a 12th grader at B-CC, shares, “…Balancing college work with school is kind of a lot. Sometimes the supplements are a big thing with college applications that you have to really manage your time with, because they need to be really strong and really good for them to be good to apply for school.”. Payne elaborates on this challenge: “Sometimes I feel like I take more time on college apps than I do on my other homework, and then I forget that I have to study for a test.” Prioritizing essays, applications, and supplemental essays is vital to getting into top colleges and universities.
To help with these obstacles that seniors are facing, B-CC provides many resources. Alex Butler, a senior at B-CC, explains, “Ms. Heald is a great resource. And counselors, Mr. Favazzo, he’s really good.” Catherine Heald is the college advisor for B-CC students. Her role is a pillar in the B-CC community as she supports and guides students through their application process. Similarly, many counselors help students manage stress and address concerns. Payne also shares, “Your teachers also help you a lot as well. There are so many tutoring places; if you need help, there’s the NHS. There are so many sources if you need help at B-CC, and there are so many different emails they send out on Naviance for extra help; Zoom meetings to help your writing get better, like help you stand out on your college application.” B-CC provides a wide variety of resources in addition to counselors, all aimed at guiding students through the complicated balancing act between work and college applications.
Although schoolwide support seems to be accessible across the board, some students have reported that in-class support varies from class to class. Senior Nico Borrelli shares his observations: ”___friends who have spent two weeks just working on their college essays. In my class, we haven’t spent a single day.” Various teachers have unique teaching styles, so it makes out that they offer different levels of support. Butler similarly says, “My teacher hasn’t given us time to write our essays.” The lack of synchronization amongst the teachers ultimately results in a degree of unfairness. Some students receive an upper hand in this process because of their accommodating teachers, leaving seniors, who aren’t given class time, to manage their college work solely outside of class.
While seniors at B-CC are feeling the pressure of balancing school work with college applications, the support systems in place —from counselors to tutoring programs — play an important role in easing the stress. Still, differences in classroom support highlight how uneven the experience can be, making time management and self-advocacy key for students navigating this challenging season.
