College application season is nearing its end, leaving seniors around the globe scrambling to finish their essays and supplements by the New Year’s deadline. At Harrisonburg, seniors are attempting to juggle their school, extracurriculars, and the stress of applications.

Senior Deb Halpern has already submitted two applications and is familiar with the application experience. “I applied to two colleges early. I applied to Claremont McKenna early decision, which is binding, and South Carolina Columbia early action,” Halpern said.

Early applicants encounter numerous benefits and drawbacks. Anyone who applies specifically as an Early Action or Decision student (as opposed to simply applying before the deadline) hears back from their school in December or January. Those who apply Early Decision are required to go to the college if they get in and are only allowed to apply to one school Early Decision.

“I’ve known that Claremont McKenna was my first choice since the beginning of my junior year so it was a no brainer applying there early decision. If you want to apply to the Honors College of South Carolina Columbia, you have to apply early decision,” Halpern said. “South Carolina is my safe school, so I’m not too worried. It’s only a matter of if I get into the honors college.”

Senior Julie Raab also applied to two schools early.

“I applied to some schools with early action, but not early decision. The schools I did for early action were Binghamton and Dickenson.”

The overall application experience differs student to student. Similarly, the stress a student feels depends on the number of schools and programs they are applying to, as well as the student herself or himself.

“I’m applying to two other schools if I don’t get in. [The college application process] was not that hard for me. It was just putting the work down on paper– you’ve already done the work. I liked writing the essays anyway so it was fine,” Halpern said.

For students submitting several more applications, the stress factor increases.

“I am submitting four more. I thought [the process] was mostly annoying. A lot of schools had supplemental sections that you had to write a lot for,” Raab said.

Some students have more to their applications than essays and information, however. Those who are applying for undergraduate BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programs have to submit portfolios or complete an audition. Senior Ellen Upton is one such student.

“I am auditioning at Grove City College to be accepted into their music program as a music minor. I’ll be auditioning sometime in January so they can add that to my application.” Upton said.

Because these programs are usually at conservatories, these auditions are considerably more important for their applications. Acting, Musical Theatre, or Music programs have to audition. Film, Visual arts, theatre design, or creative writing programs usually have portfolios that are submitted electronically.

“The audition process will be a lot more stressful because you have to actually go there in person and be there in front of music professors who will teach you in the future,” Upton said.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are students choosing to not go to college, either for financial or personal reasons. Senior Jessica Wetzel falls under this category.

“I am not applying to any colleges this year. I am going to study in Turkey instead.” Wetzel said.

These students usually want to take a ‘gap’ year between high school and college, which may or may not involve travelling the world.

“I wanted to study in turkey because I already had a foreign exchange experience in Italy and I wanted to recreate that in another country,” Wetzel said.

These students get the benefit of putting off the complicated application process a year. This way, they don’t have to bounce around school and applications.

“I definitely feel relieved about not having to apply to colleges because I see everyone get worked up about applying,” Wetzel said.