As college application deadlines approach, seniors at Aliso Niguel High School are juggling essays, recommendation requests and the weight of major life decisions all while striving to maintain their mental health.
For many students, the process is as much an emotional challenge as it is an academic one. Between managing classwork, extracurricular activities and looming application deadlines, seniors are learning how to strike a balance between productivity and self-care.
Kainani Libunao (12) said, “I make sure to do my college applications when I feel motivated to. Because if I’m unmotivated, then I don’t write well.”
Libunao said she tries to remind herself of the bigger picture to stay positive throughout the process. “I just remind myself that this is something good that I’m doing,” she said. “I also take frequent breaks to relieve stress.”
Mental health professionals and school advisors agree that the stress of college applications can take a toll on students’ well-being. At Aliso Niguel, the College and Career Center plays a vital role in helping seniors manage deadlines while maintaining perspective.
Bea Nguyen, the school’s College and Career Center advisor said, “As far as what they can do now, have a college application calendar to dedicate time to not feel so overwhelmed. Dedicating time for college applications will help them feel more in control.”
Nguyen said organization is key to reducing anxiety during the busy fall semester. She encourages students to pace themselves rather than rushing through applications at the last minute.
“They might rush and not pay attention to how they enter grades into applications,” Nguyen said. “Errors with grades could cost their admission. Students are submitting early action and early decisions and putting that on their plate can be overwhelming.”
For Libunao, the most stressful part is writing the personal essay is the section many students view as their best chance to stand out. “Just the pressure of writing a good essay that will sound good but also be different from everyone else,” Libunao said.
Nguyen also cautioned against students turning to artificial intelligence to help write essays. “If students are stressed, my biggest concern is them relying on AI to write college essays for them,” she said. “Colleges will know, even if they don’t have a formal tool, they will know, I know.”
Both Libunao and Nguyen emphasize that mental health should remain a priority. “I think it’s very important because mental health needs to be taken into account to have a good education,” Libunao said.
Nguyen echoed that sentiment, reminding students that their value isn’t determined by an admissions decision. “I want them to realize getting in or not getting in isn’t the end of the world,” she said. “If they wanna go somewhere, there is always a path they can make for themselves.”
As application season continues, Aliso Niguel seniors are learning that the journey to college is about more than acceptance letters. It’s about resilience, balance and taking care of oneself along the way.
