How to Balance College Apps and Family Time

How to Balance College Apps and Family Time

At this time of year, the number one thing on most students’ minds is winter break. Plans of family trips, celebrations, and—maybe most importantly—no school work, start filling their thoughts shortly after Thanksgiving.But for high school seniors who are still in the middle of the application process, this winter vacation can be a stressful one. In almost every case, it certainly is a busy time—especially if the results of early decision didn't bring a definitive conclusion to your process. Balancing application work and still enjoying your friends and family can be tricky, but it is possible. Further, keeping this balance is important both to your mental health and to maintaining a high quality in your work.Read on for a few ideas you can incorporate into your break (and beyond) to make the most of the time you have with your loved ones during application season.

Plan Family Moments, Not Trips

The December you're working on your college applications may not be the best time for an extended family trip, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy each other's company.Plan smaller excursions, like a half-day hike or dinner at a restaurant you all love, so that you can spend time together but still leave room to make ample progress on the tasks ahead of you. Being intentional about the time you do spend together will make those moments more meaningful, even if they can't be as plentiful as you would like.

Take a Christmas Break

Whatever your holiday traditions are, pick one or two days during your winter vacation to take a mental break. Put intentional focus into enjoying time with your friends and family and recharging your battery.This will actually help you make quicker progress when you return to the work in front of you. One of the tradeoffs of taking this kind of break, however, is that you must work really hard during the remainder of your vacation.Even though class is not in session, you can still structure your time according to a school day schedule, with mornings and afternoons reserved for working on application tasks and evenings free to do the things that you enjoy. This ensures that you will devote multiple hours daily to tackling your personal statement or competing persuasive supplemental essays, while still giving yourself the time you need to unwind.

Set Personal Boundaries 

Your family wants to show their support and to help you succeed in this process as much as possible. But when you are spending extra time together and there are deadlines looming, tension around the house can build to overwhelming amounts.It's important that you set good boundaries and have an open conversation with your family about how they can be most helpful and when you need space to be able to work effectively.Many students and families find it helpful to partner with an admissions consultant who can expertly guide them through the process and help them maintain better, more positive communication and well-defined roles for each person. Remember, the key is to enjoy your time with your family. Personal boundaries and open communication will help facilitate that.

Don't Wait Until the Last Second

Hopefully you have been diligently working on your college applications for months. So, by the time winter vacation arrives, you only have to make final touches before being ready to submit.Plan to send in your applications well before the final deadline. Try to give yourself at least a week before they are actually due, so you allow time for things to go wrong (server crashes, computer glitches, unexpected illnesses, surprise essays, etcetera) without it derailing your progress.This should also give you more time to enjoy your family and spend the latter part of your break celebrating the hard work that you've done instead of cramming to finish it before midnight on the due date.Don’t procrastinate!By now you are close to the end of the application process and one step closer to graduation. Complete your college apps on a high note. Make sure you allow yourself the time necessary to put in your best efforts so that you represent yourself as best as possible and give admissions committees every reason to accept you.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us