Written by Nishagie Hettiarachchi
Edited by Cassidy Ho
As we move forward with the 2020-2021 school year, many students feel stressed about what’s yet to come -- with seniors front and center. Amidst upcoming college applications and scholarship deadlines, many seniors feel extremely stressed and anxious about time management, especially during Covid-19. This article will be a little guide to seniors and underclassmen who need resources and tips to make sure their applications will get done on time, along with some extra information revolving around scholarships and managing mental health at this time.
Graphic made by Michelle Nguyen, from Arts for Relief
College Applications.
Scary right? It doesn’t necessarily have to be. When tackling any application or application process, it’s important to reach out for help when necessary. Don’t feel like you have to complete these alone! Of course, there are certain aspects that have to be done by you, but it’s never wrong to ask for help when you need it.
Here are a few ways you can break down the application process:
Firstly, we recommend that you look over which schools you are deciding to apply to. Finding schools that fit your range and academic interests are important. Secondly, research some majors! Most schools offer over 50 majors for undergraduate study or graduate studies. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed, that is completely normal. Deciding on a major is good, but you can also go undeclared and decide on your area of study in the school itself. Make sure you research before you do this, however; it is always good to be fully informed on what you want to do. Lastly, look into each application and start choosing what questions you want to answer, or take steps in completing them section by section every week or so. This will save you from stressing to complete the small things in the future.
Since Arts for Relief is based in Southern California, many of these deadlines and application processes will relate to colleges mostly in our range. Don’t worry if you live outside of this range though, we will link resources to help a broader span of students below.
University of California
The University of California is a college system with 9 campuses offering undergraduate and graduate education opportunities. Their applications have already been released, and the easy part about completing these is that all UC’s use the same application. It is up to you to choose which of the colleges you would like to apply to. Deadline: November 1-30th
California State University
California State University is another college system with 23 campuses offering undergraduate and graduate education opportunities. CSU, like the UC system, offers its own application system: Cal State Apply. In this system, you can also apply to multiple cal-states with the same application. Deadline: December 4th
Community Colleges
Community college is another great undergraduate and graduate education opportunity. There are numerous community colleges spanning throughout the state, and the cost-reducing benefits are widely known. There is also an option to earn credits from community colleges that can then be transferred to a UC. Community college applications are usually open at the start of any term for students who want to enroll. There is no specific deadline for these applications, as the process for these schools is a little more relaxed.
Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarships are great to look into if you want a tuition boost for any college. Linked below are a few scholarship opportunities that you can look into when applying. Feel free to look at them and learn more!
California Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Heef (Deadline: December 31, 2020)
Carson Scholars Fund Inc (Deadline: January 10, 2021)
Equality Scholarships (Deadline: January 31, 2021)
Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund (Deadline: March 2, 2021)
Michael R Mettler Memorial Scholarship (Deadline: April 19, 2021)
California Assn Of Collectors Educational Scholarship Foundation (Deadline: June 30, 2021)
How to Manage Mental Health
There’s no doubt about it, applying for colleges and thinking about the future is scary. Anxious and negative thoughts take up most of our headspace, and when they do, focusing on what needs to be done seems impossible. When starting applications, remember to take a deep breath. While education is important, realize that school is not the only defining factor in your life. There are several ways to manage mental health during this time, but we’ll break down some of the best ones!
Take a breather!
Relax, relax, relax. We know that you probably hear that often but it bears repeating. Taking a walk to clear your head or letting yourself enjoy some fun hobbies are ways to let your mind know that relaxing moments do exist. Sitting down and staring at applications and personal insight questions for hours on end may seem like a good and productive idea, but trust us, it’s not beneficial. Remember to give your mind time to deflate and acknowledge that you are working hard and deserve some rest.
Break each section down to make life a little easier.
Although applications can look scary at first, when looking into them, they are just a lot of repetitive information that you just have to sit down and fill in. Take some time every week to break down a section of an application and get it done! The earlier the better.
Talk to a friend or counselor.
One of the most important things to remember when filling out these or any applications is that you are never alone. Friends, peers, teachers, and counselors are always available to lend a helping hand. Getting some help or advice can be extremely helpful when you are stuck or just need an extra boost. Online resources are also a great way to get information about deadlines and helpful tips. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
We hope you were able to take away some tips and resources from this article. Remember to take care of yourself, and good luck!
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