Colorful, crammed-to-the-brim Google calendars.  The countdown to August 1st.  That uneasy pit in the stomach when anyone mentions the trigger word: college.  After the dark days of junior year, it is time to start the college application process.  The many steps of college applications are overwhelming for all seniors; from finalizing college lists to brainstorming and writing the dreaded personal statement, the timeline seems endless. 

     Truthfully, it is all about a balance.  When fall comes around, seniors’ schedules flood with new classes, sports practices, club meetings, and other extracurricular responsibilities.  So, to offset this inevitable frenzy of constantly working, many seniors have been trying to get ahead by taking advantage of their summers.  Some seniors busily study for their last SAT/ACT tests, while others mindlessly scroll through their Common Application, eager to fill in as much as they can so they can focus solely on their essay. 

     But again, it is all about a balance.  Students travel, cut time off to hang out with friends, work their jobs, and indulge in their leisurely hobbies.  It is important that they still take the time to breathe and have some fun during the summer, especially after all of their hard work during the previous year. 

     For Regan Szczepkowicz (‘26), this summer has been a restless one.  As captain of the varsity field hockey team, she works meticulously in preparation for the fall season.  “I devoted a lot of time this summer to not only playing field hockey, but also working with our new coaches to get things ready for the season.  I also had to finish researching the colleges I was applying to, visit a few schools, and complete a summer program.  On top of all that, I spent a lot of time with my family, and travelled to Boston twice,” she says.  With all of these commitments on her mind, she also tries her best to find time for her college applications.  “It’s one of those things that always sits in the back of your mind, like there’s a constant pressure to use your time wisely and finish your applications as soon as possible.”  Szczepkowicz’s apprehension is shared by many other students in the class of 2026.  A both exciting and anxiety-ridden season is incoming – best of luck to the seniors!