I have decided to take advantage of early application options for a few of the schools on my college list. Although this decision has accelerated my application deadlines, ultimately I think the reward of hearing back early is worth the extra time I have to spend on applications now. Plus, I’ve got to finish these applications eventually, right? So I figure I might as well get them out of the way now instead of later.

In deciding where to begin this application process, I first looked at where the process ends. For me, November 1^st was the answer. It is the date by which my completed applications must be turned in for early consideration. With the final date on my application timeline set, I then determined what exactly needed to be submitted by the date now emblazoned in red on my calendar.

The answer, I found, was a lot — a lot needed to be turned in by the first of November. I needed teacher and counselor recommendations accompanied by their own set of forms. I needed to order and send a score report from ACT to my selected colleges. I needed to fill out the application itself, including the various supplemental questions and essays the colleges want. I needed to file a transcript request form with my school’s post-grad office and make sure they send that form — along with my recommendations and school report — to my selected colleges. And I needed to do all of this while keeping up with my schoolwork, continuing to participate in my clubs, and still finding time to enjoy my last year with my high school friends.

Needless to say, my original assessment of the situation was a bit overwhelming. But after a night’s rest to clear my head, a few reassuring conversations with those close to me like my parents, and a couple of pick-up games of basketball just to relax, I realized that I, just like every other student going through this, was going to get through it just fine. If last year’s seniors could do it, and the seniors before them, then so could I.

Once I adopted this attitude, I got down to work. I began to break down this task of applying to college into its smaller, more manageable parts. By doing this, I could tackle these parts one at a time, and separately they felt far more manageable. The timeline I began — with today on the left and November 1^st on the right — began to fill up. By knocking off these small projects one at a time, day-by-day, more and more of my “to do’s” are behind me and completed.

As of today, I have finished my common application and the supplements for the schools to which I am applying. I’ve met with a few of my teachers to polish my essays. And I have talked with the post-grad office to find out exactly what they need from me in order to send my transcripts, school report, and recommendations to my selected schools. However, I still need to send my score reports and check on my teacher and counselor recommendations, but at least what I have left is more management than actual work.

This upcoming week is “Spirit Week” for my high school and our Homecoming Dance is this Saturday night, so I’m planning on putting my timeline on hold as much as I can to enjoy my last “Creek Cup,” our High School’s version of a field day. The kids get all decked out in their class colors (seniors are blue) and participate in typical field day events like tug-of-war and the three-legged race. I’m also looking forward to my final “Movie on The Baseball Field,” event and my last Homecoming Dance.

Having started to put together the many pieces of this application puzzle, I feel confident that the application process is manageable, at least more manageable than it originally seemed. This is not to say I won’t be busy, and I know I’ve got my work cut out for me. But at least it is nice to feel enough on top of things to be able to enjoy my last “Spirit Week.”