With the fall season approaching and college application deadlines looming over their heads, seniors are dropping as fast as the leaves are. Whether it is leaving during collaboration or just skipping their classes entirely, seniors do their best to make it through the day. Maybe it is the stress from college applications, or maybe it is the stress from all of the school work.
As the month of October comes to a close, the Common App portal for early decision and early action is as well. The first day of November marks the day that every senior has been fearing for the past couple of months. The day that college applications are due and the day that will ultimately decide what their futures hold. Seniors have been working on applications all summer long, and ever since mid-August this has also been combined with regular school work, creating a very stress-inducing situation.
While some students are cramming in last-minute edits to their essays or finishing all of the Common App questions, the homework load continues to pile up. AP classes are not slowing down due to college due dates arriving.
“I know that seniors are stressed out about it, but I think I have to pay attention to the authenticity of my classroom,” said AP Government Teacher Karen Fry.
In retrospect, some teachers are allowing students to take a break and focus on meeting the severe deadline. Jonathan Tomczak is one teacher allowing students to work on their college applications during class.
“If teachers have the time and can make it work with the curriculum, I think it’s a good use of that time for seniors,” said Social Science Teacher Jonathan Tomczak. Classes that are giving out busy work and not work that is beneficial to the students should not be allowed during this stressful time.
With time closing in on the early decision and early action deadline, AP classes continue their speed with homework and even assessments.
“I respect the fact that college applications are due, but I’m giving a test next week,” said Fry.
Although Tomczak and Fry have dealt with the preparation for college applications differently, they both agreed that college and school assignments should be handled separately.
