Counselors share their top tips for helping seniors meet impending deadlines.

November 1 is not just a random date in the fall. If you’re a high school senior, that date means the future and the submission date for the first round of college applications.

“I felt a little anxious about [applications], but as I started looking at colleges and then actually writing some of the essays, I've enjoyed it and have enjoyed thinking about what I want to do.” says Charlie Navarre ’26. “I would say it's gone from anxiety to a little bit more excitement.”

“You're stressed out before actually starting,” says Malak Al Waili ’26. “But once you start writing, once you start seeing everything in front of you and seeing it all fall into place, it makes you feel better, and you do get excited to just finally submit the application.”

Navarre and Al Waili are two seniors, in a class of 127, planning to submit more than a dozen applications combined. For each of them, their work to organize, decide which schools to apply to and write multiple essays began this summer, but they have not done it alone. The St. Stephen’s College Counseling office has played a supportive and important role in the process.

“Shout out Mr. Dergham, because all throughout the summer he's been awesome,” says Navarre. “I would send him emails and drafts, and he would always come back with comments and when we were able to meet, when school started back, he gave me a lot of great insights."

Al Waili shares the same experience.

“The College Counseling office has been great. They've always been there to help. I always reach out with emails and get quick responses —whether it’s feedback on essays, or any questions I have —they always guide me to resources,” said Al Waili.

Counselors hold steady office hours, send regular emails about upcoming deadlines, keep Spartans informed about the large number of college admission representatives visiting campus, share resources and their best tips for managing the seasonal application stress.

“Seniors can set themselves up for a less stressful November 1 by working steadily on college applications a little bit each day rather than all at once toward the end,” says Claire Fenton, College Counseling co-director. “Counselors are having lots of student conferences, reviewing applications and essays, and providing support as students submit applications. Lots of seniors have already submitted apps and signed the office ‘I applied!’ windows!”

Counselors also say seniors should be sure to carefully read all of their applications and find additional guideline information in their Maia Resources. Counselors welcome seniors to stop by their office with any last minute questions or essay review, or to work on applications in the office and hit submit.

Anxiety finally disappears and relief settles in when seniors do hit the submit button and sign their names on the office windows in the College Counseling office as a way to celebrate a major milestone on the road to college.

College admission officers from UCLA, Georgetown University and Bates College share their best advice for parents and students. Read more. 

To learn more about College Counseling at St. Stephen’s, and view the full schedule of college campus visits, click here.

St. Stephen’s students and families can explore College Counseling resources here in MySSES.