Nelie McNeal, Founder and Managing Partner

Anticipating a college admissions decision isn’t easy. You’ve put so much into the process; in fact, this is the culmination of tremendous thought and action on your part. Each test, each quarter grade, the time you spent volunteering, the conditioning you did for sports – you made that happen. And then there’s the application process itself, which can be exhausting!

But now, the outcome is completely out of your hands. That sudden lack of control can make the waiting period feel endless. It’s natural to hope that if you think about it enough, check your email constantly, or “will it” to happen, your wishes will come true. But in your heart, you know that agonizing won’t change the decision.

What you can control, however, is how you use your time during this period.
Whatever you do, don’t sit and moulder. Get up, get out, and get moving. Endorphins are your friends. Exercise boosts your mood and lowers stress. And if it’s vigorous enough, it also gives your mind a break from the cycle of worry. Run. Walk. Stretch. Lift, Cycle. Kick. Throw. Play. When you’ve finished, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that you dearly need. (And you will have used up a little more time!)

Don’t doomscroll. Easier said than done, right? No, really. Put the phone down and turn your attention outward. When was the last time you played the piano? Or took a younger sibling out for ice cream? Create something: a batch of cookies, a vision board for your graduation party, a letter to your grandma. (Don’t you owe her a thank-you note? Now you have the time!). Hobbies and distractions can help fill the empty space and the tortoise-like passage of time. They also remind you that there’s far more to life than waiting than checking your email.

This waiting period is tough for everyone. So much coalesces around the college application process: family expectations, vicarious living, financial decisions, hopes, dreams. But it’s especially hard for students, who feel like their future is at stake. (On that note, remember: you don’t need a college acceptance to validate you. You’re already wonderful.)

Shifting your focus to things you enjoy is more productive. So – get off that admissions portal, and get busy. No matter what the outcome may be, surely you deserve a break from anxiety while you wait for it.