In our previous blog post, we talked about the five types of fear creeping up during the college admissions process. Fear can bring about all sorts of negative emotions, such as anxiety, frustration, jealousy, and guilt.
Don’t be discouraged. The college admissions process can bring an array of positive emotions as well. Feelings like anticipation, excitement, encouragement, and surprise not only make the journey enjoyable but also contribute to personal growth and psychological resilience.
Let’s explore these emotions and learn how to harness their power.
Anticipation
Ah the sense of exhilaration after you’ve pressed the submit button! The myriad of possibilities boiling up in your mind as you imagine your life on the campus of your dream school!
Anticipation keeps you motivated during stressful times by reminding you of your goal and keeping you focused on the exciting possibilities. It also nurtures patients and optimism as you look forward to the future.
Use anticipation to build up your psychological reserve by following those steps: (1) Visualize success. Picture yourself thriving in college. (2) Channel the positive emotional energy to productivity. Focus on one task at a time such as revising an essay. (3) Celebrate small wins. Acknowledge each step you’ve completed. Give yourself a pat on the back when you finish an essay or complete an application.
Curiosity
You may feel curious and inspired as you tour your dream college campus, spark connections with the students and professors, and discover its programs and clubs that align with your passions.
Curiosity fuels enthusiasm and helps you tackle challenges with a growth mindset. Do the following to take advantage of your curiosity: (1) Use it to dive into discovery mode as you research colleges and stay engaged and excited about your options. (2) Share your joy by talking about what you find and how it makes you excited with friends and family. (3) Keep the momentum going by proactively take steps like networking with current students, professors, and alumni.
Encouragement
Putting together your college application is a process of synthesis. Your application should tell your story, who you are, where you’ve been, how you got here, and where you are headed to. It’s a form of self-validation, and you may also receive lots of external validation in the form of praise from teachers, counselors, or family about your hard work and achievements.
Going through the application process is also a shared rite of passage for high school seniors. Hearing about your peers’ similar challenges and triumphs can help you reflect on and manage your experience.
Encouragement boosts self-esteem because it reminds you that others believe in your abilities. It helps you reframe setbacks as opportunities to grow with the support of your community.
Harness the power of encouragement in 3 steps: (1) Seek feedback and guidance from mentors or peers. (2) Cultivate gratitude by appreciating those who are cheering you on and strengthening your support system. (3) Give back by encouraging others. Sharing positivity can create a reciprocal cycle of motivation.
Confidence
There are many moments during the college admissions process that will add to your confidence. Each time you successfully complete a task in the application, such as writing an essay or entering the list of extracurriculars into the Common App, you’ll feel proud and fulfilled.
We say it’s a process of self-discovery and we mean it. As you put your application together, you’ll realize how far you’ve come on your academic journey. Your unique story and strengths become more and more clear.
Confidence reinforces your belief in your ability to handle challenges. It makes you more resilient and reduces the self-doubt that would hinder your decision-making.
Use these tips to boost your confidence: (1) Track your progress by keeping a checklist of completed tasks so you can visually see how much you’ve achieved. (2) Practice self-affirmation by reminding yourself of your value and potential everyday. (3) Keep in mind your long-term purpose and goals and reassure yourself that what you are doing is a step in achieving these goals. Recognize that college application is not a hurdle but a process of meaningful personal growth.
Surprise
You may not think surprise is a positive emotion (hello, who’s the control freak out there!?), but it actually has wonderful effects on your psychology. You may feel surprised as you (re)discover your strength and achievements when brainstorming for an essay or looking through the list of activities you’ve participated in since 9th grade. You may also feel surprised when you receive praises from teachers and mentors. And of course there’s the bigger surprise of receiving unexpected scholarship offers and acceptance into a school you thought was out of your reach.
Surprises nurture optimism and open your mind to new possibilities. They also strengthen your ability to adapt and embrace the unexpected. Harness the power of surprise with the following steps: (1) Stay open-minded and explore opportunities you may not have considered before. (2) Be willing to take calculated risks. Let each little surprise inspire you that success may come from a place you didn’t expect. (3) Convert challenges and obstacles into opportunities for growth.
Stay Positive
The process of applying and gaining admission into colleges is sure to contain challenges but also uplifting moments of excitement, pride, and encouragement. Savor these positive emotions and cultivate a mindset of gratitude and optimism. When fear or another negative emotion creeps in, shift your focus to the positive. This process is helping you develop critical skills like resilience, decision-making, and self-awareness that can bestow long-term benefits.
Read more on our tips on how to manage the stress of college application process here.