Written by Amanda, University of Pennsylvania

The holiday season can be an exciting yet stressful time for high school seniors waiting for college application decisions! With early decision results coming in and regular decision deadlines still looming, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty. Here are some tips to manage that stress during the holidays! 

Real Strategies for Managing Holiday Stress 

Set Boundaries Around College Conversations: 

It’s okay to tell your family and friends that you’d rather not talk about college decisions during the holidays. While they all may mean well, being asked about your application status over and over can feel overwhelming. You can redirect the conversation to something else and give yourself a break from the pressure. 

Try to Keep Some Routine, but Don’t Overwhelm Yourself: 

It’s tempting to think you should be “productive” over the holidays, but don’t feel pressured to constantly do something related to college prep. Instead, try to stick to a general routine that includes time for rest. Whether that’s taking a walk, catching up on sleep, or just watching TV, find small ways to keep your day structured without adding to the stress. It’s okay to let your brain take a break too! 

Focus on What You Can Control (Even If It’s Small): 

It’s easy to fixate on what you can’t control, such as the decisions of admissions committees, but there are still things you can do. If it feels right, you could look into scholarships, research other schools, or work on a backup plan. These things won’t take away the uncertainty, but they can give you a sense of agency and a distraction from the waiting. 

Dealing with Early Decision Results 

If you got in, that’s great! Take some time to celebrate, but also acknowledge that you might still have mixed emotions about the process as a whole. If you didn’t get the result you hoped for, it’s okay to feel disappointed or frustrated. It's a tough situation, and it’s completely valid to take time to process those feelings. Remember, one decision doesn’t determine your worth or future. There are still plenty of opportunities ahead, and it’s okay to need some time to regroup before focusing on the next steps. 

Key Takeaways 

The holiday season can be a tough time for high school seniors waiting on college decisions, and it's important to recognize that the stress is real. Rather than pretending everything is fine, give yourself permission to feel however you need to feel. Set boundaries around college-related conversations, take time to rest, and focus on what you can control. It’s okay if the holidays don’t feel perfectly peaceful; what matters is finding ways to manage the stress in a way that feels right for you!

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