‘Tis the season for breaking out the fuzzy sweaters, warming up with a cup of hot cocoa, and unboxing the holiday décor. Unless you’re a student. Then, tis also the season for stress breakouts, overnight cram sessions, copious amounts of caffeine and desperate internet searches that somehow end in hours of mindless scrolling.

It is the common lot of every secondary, post-secondary student everywhere to be painfully aware of the seasonal changes. Not because of the weather, or even because of the impending germ season, but because suddenly, thousands of us around the globe miraculously develop a unique case of tunnel vision, and all that is visible in front of us are the finals and deadlines coming at us like the front end of the Polar Express. Applying to postsecondary seems even more daunting. 

This fall I did as millions of other High School students and I applied to university. Now, don’t get me wrong. It was incredible, but also eye-opening in many ways.  I have learned so many valuable things about myself and about higher education through this process. 

Lessons I learned while applying…

Nothing is without flaws, especially something pronounced to be a perfect fit for everyone

Here’s the thing, I am not a good test taker. Particularly when it comes to anything involving multiple choice. I second guess myself, all of the things that I know, and then I question those things again till I wonder if I even spelled my name right. It’s not a pretty situation. So, obviously, I encountered a problem when I began to study for tests like the SAT and ACT in which that was standard. As much as I wished for a more intuitive test, I had to just work through it and take the tests to the best of my ability.

Needless to say, that same thing extends to the university application process and university in general. It’s not perfect. And it’s not for everyone. Each person has a different learning type and different needs. A specific university or program might be the perfect fit for one person, but it’s not going to be right for everyone.

Our choice should not be random or even the slightest bit convenient.

There are so many reasons people choose their respective institutions. Reasons anywhere from cost to religion to location. These are excellent reasons, but they cannot be the only things we take into consideration. I have seen dear friends and acquaintances alike wrestle over their identities because of the difficulty and importance of such a decision. The pressure to choose a forever career is real, and it’s heavy. That’s why I’ve learned when applying that the best option isn’t necessarily what is closest to me, but what offers the most growth. Growth is an investment and one that we must intentionally seek.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” –Benjamin Franklin

We all know education is an investment. It’s worthy of that title simply for all the money we put into it. But here’s the thing, I am not of the opinion that Mr. Franklin meant a cash return. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has seen and read all those articles with titles like “30 Worst, and Best Paid College Degrees” and “10 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment”. If that’s the case, then I’m definitely not the only one that has looked over those lists and cursed under my breath because a potential career happened to make a list. Yes, it is important for us to choose to study something that is financially beneficial, but we miss the point if that’s all we’re looking for.

Like Benjamin Franklin asserts, we cannot forget that it is the knowledge that is important. My experiences applying helped me to further recognize this truth.

It’s a strength to know my weaknesses

Another formative experience was completing application essays. Ultimately, what I struggled with most was what to say because I questioned my story and my credibility. Would they accept me and my story as it was? I didn’t know. But then I went back to a conversation I had months ago with a family friend who’s an MD Ph.D. We were talking applications and essays and trials that were making it tough to get to that ‘I’m a college student now’ point and he said something like, “Don’t give up because schools like that like to see how you’ve overcome your struggles and all the things that you’ve learned coming out of them.” I understood then that colleges greatly benefit from seeing how you triumph over difficulties. What an enlightening discovery that was.

So while it may be the season for cramming and finals, it’s also a season to look forward. To those who still have the application process ahead of them, pursue this next step with vigor! I guarantee that it will make a huge difference when you’re applying.

If you’re searching for more tips, check out 10 Things I Wish I Know Before My First Year Of University.