At times the college application process makes students and their families want to flee to a remote wilderness.

Stress is an inevitable part of the college admissions experience.

You want to get admitted to your dream college or university and have the money to pay for it.

There’s so much riding on the outcome, but I do believe that advanced and early preparation are key factors in greatly reducing your college admissions stress levels.

Each child probably wants to go to a different college of university. Each child brings a different outlook, set of skills, and desires.

Parents’ concerns could be compounded if there are several children who are going to be college age in a few years. The children may or may not want to go to the same college or university. You can’t use a cookie-cutter approach to your children and college. Each child should have an equal opportunity to fulfill their dream at the college that they believe will fulfill their ambitions. Do your research and planning, learn about your options, take action as soon as possible for each child, and you will do more than survive. You or your children will thrive at college.

One of the first hurdles to success is the college admissions testing process. The importance of these tests in the application process intensifies the pressure. Anxiety about a test can affect performance on the test, so my action plan for the students I am helping includes taking demanding courses that will challenge them. These courses help develop the analytical and problem solving abilities and the communication skills that will enable them to better handle any and all standardized testing situations. Increased confidence and preparation automatically reduce their stress.

These skills will make them more successful in high school and make them more attractive candidates for admission to colleges and universities. The confidence in your skills that you acquire in high school will follow you to the college of your choice and help you succeed there.

When I mentor students to help them prepare for the SAT an ACT, I make sure they take advantage of all practice tests. Experiencing the practice tests is important because an unprepared test taker can lose time just figuring out test procedures, such as time limits and how grading works. In addition, although students may know the answers to questions, sometimes they way they are asked can be confusing or unfamiliar. Taking practice tests eliminates several of these unknowns, allowing for a better test experience. Additional tutoring, either in private or group sessions, also builds confidence so that on the day of the test the student will feel confident and prepared.

The same level of preparation and research can minimize the anxiety and stress surrounding the entire college application process. You won’t feel helpless if you learn how the admission process works, understand how the information you submit is used, and know the actions you can take to enhance your chances. The savvy student takes control of the application process by taking advantage of every opportunity for self-improvement, and thoroughly researching the application and college funding process. The feeling of being in control and of being prepared can be your best technique for dealing with college admissions stress . You will survive!

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States for you to choose from. If you are prepared with the skills and the knowledge, you can enjoy the adventure of the next big step toward fulfilling your hopes for the future.