As May 1st, the official college decision deadline, crept up, seniors were feeling the pressure – from social media, family expectations, and or the worry about choosing the “right” school.. 

Social media plays a huge role in causing nerves. Many students start posting their college decisions, and suddenly, seniors feel like they are supposed to have their whole lives figured out, too.

Senior Dasha Ilnytska, who will attend the University of California, Irvine, shared how the process was exciting but also emotional. 

“Change is not something I love to do or experience, so picking a college, a new home, and atmosphere has been challenging but also thrilling,” Ilnytska said. 

On top of that, there is pressure to pick a “top” school.. People chase names, rankings, and acceptance rates – sometimes without even thinking about whether they would be happy there. 

When they see others committing early to places like UCLA or NYU, some feel behind, even if they have worked just as hard. 

Senior Lilliana Foote, who decided on the University of Arizona, shared how expectations were affecting her as she was still in the process of deciding. “Social media influenced how I saw schools. Honestly, it shows and highlights the campus, student life, everything, which made it harder to know what I wanted,” Foote said. 

Family pressures students even more because parents want the best for their children, which can make students feel even more stressed. 

Senior Makayla Freidman, who has decided on Coastal Carolina, talked about how this affected her decision-making process.

 “My parents were involved the whole way. They wanted what’s best for me, but also made me second-guess myself if I was making the right decision for myself or them,” Friedman said.

Despite all the pressure, most seniors say they are learning to trust their gut and block out the stress.