Accepted, deferred, and denied are the three words seniors are anticipating this time of year.

With the second semester approaching quickly, colleges are sending their decision that either relieve the stress of seniors or amplify it for another couple months.

“The stress comes from trying to get everything done before the deadline. Most of this stress is self-induced with students not planning for all that needs to be done,” director of school counseling Mr. Tim Lucas said.

For many who applied early and got accepted, they begin to look for roommates, apply for scholarships, and research extracurriculars to join once the 2018 fall semester starts.

“I was so happy to be accepted early to Virginia Tech. it fit my academic and financial need and I loved the campus,” senior Katey Muskett said.

Yet, once a student is into a school, the work does not stop there. Many schools require end of year transcripts to ensure that their future students do not slack off towards the end of the year.

Not only do semester and end of year grades matter for those already and accepted, but also are critical for those who are deferred.

“For students who have not heard back, and this really is the majority, the suggestion is NOT to slack off. Semester grades are critical,” Mr. Lucas said.

As many know, “senioritis” will strike the senior class come second semester. With the majority of applications already sent, motivation to keep up grades are at an all time low.

“I definitely can see myself not putting in as much effort as I did junior year because all my applications are already in. It is harder to stay on top of grades,” Paz said.

Like high school, college has an array of activities to join. From athletics to clubs there is said to be a spot for everyone.

“Once I get choose which school is best for me, assuming I get in, I plan to rush a sorority to meet new people and gain opportunities,” senior Victoria Preast said.

However, for the majority of seniors, they are not concerned with what to jin once in college but rather the pressure of knowing where they will begin the next step of their life.

“They question and worry about… Where to apply?  How many schools do I apply to?  Who do I ask to write letters of recommendation?  Will I get in?  Do I apply early action?  Early decision?,” Mr. Lucas said.

Yet, even with all the boxes checked, many still feel the immense amount of anxiety mixed with anticipation about what schools will be their home for the next four years.

“I am the most stressed about not knowing where i will end up next year because it is a really big decision,” Paz said.

Applying to college is a process that takes more than just telling the university about yourself. It requires essays, teacher aid, research, and communication with the school receiving the application.

Deadlines for most schools start as early as November and go all the way into February.

With the help of guidance and teachers, students are aided when looking into schools, sending paperwork, and receiving scholarships.

“We try to assist with providing as much support and direction as possible,” Mr. Lucas said.

Along with the help of guidance counselors and teachers, the “Common App” is a general application that many schools accept, it requires the applicant information, parents information, and other personal questions. The point of it is to reduce the amount of applications that need to be completed.

“Common App helped me a lot because I applied to many schools that used it. It really shortened the amount of applications I had to fill out,” Paz said.

After submitting the application, students receive either an email or letter in the mail with the decision of their future.

“ When I received my letter of acceptance i was so happy I didn’t even know what to do,” Muskett said.

There are three decisions that a student will see on their profile or in the letter: accepted, deferred, or denied.

“When I got deferred from James Madison University, I was discouraged but I knew it wasn’t the end and another chance would be coming,” Preast said.

Deferred is only an option for those who applied “early action,” it means that they are neither accepted or denied and the school is going to take another look at the application for regular decision.

With big decisions being made and more to come for the senior class, college stress seems to be inevitable regardless of which stage of the process one falls under.