If you could describe the college process in one word, what would it be?

iSchool seniors Tsedale Forbes and Brianly Urena give the same answer without skipping a beat:

“Stressful.”

For them and many other seniors, the last year at the iSchool is the time to buckle down and make some big decisions. From finalizing applications, writing essays, and going on tours, it may become increasingly difficult to keep track of everything going on in a student’s life.

“I’m very busy with the college process,” Urena says. “I have to do school work on top of everything. I have to do FAFSA, CSS, and apply for scholarships.”

“I just have so much to do in such little time and it’s very… stressful for me,” she says with a hint of exasperation.

Seniors devote some of their time each week attending to certain tasks that will help develop their college-readiness skills.

Urena says that she spends seven hours a week doing college-related work, possibly even more. With this workload, it may be harder to participate in extracurricular activities.

“I had to drop one club,” Urena states, “I was planning on applying for iCare my senior year, but as soon as I realized how much work the college process would be I had to tell Ms. Colon ‘No, I can’t join,’ because I just had too much work on my hands.”

For Forbes, maintaining a focus in these tasks isn’t much of a struggle: “Once I start something I’m in the motivation to just keep going.”

Underclassmen may feel reassured to hear seniors say that the iSchool provides assistance in the process. In Junior year, college prep seriously begins, and the iSchool doesn’t hesitate to inform students about the college process

“I used to be annoyed with how they would throw it in your face, but now I realize it’s actually really helpful,” Urena says.” I’ve talked to other students and they don’t know what FAFSA or CSS is, or CUNYs even, and I just know it all. I’m glad, and I feel comfortable with it.”

Forbes agrees.

“They really start to prepare you for it,” she nods, “A lot of other schools don’t get that. A lot of the kids have to do it on their own, or their parents have to pay for someone to help them with that process.”

Underclassmen may haven’t been introduced to the iSchool’s college counselor, Ms. Beck. Forbes speaks about her with much appreciation: “I’m really grateful that we have Ms. Beck, and that she always has one or two interns helping her. I feel like that really does give us the support that we need. They know what to do so most of us have all around support.”

Forbes also notes that the iSchool prepares students for college, not just in the way the school provides aid, but the way the school functions:

“I was doing applications and thinking about how I had to fill out an application online to be considered for this school,” she recalls, “They just do little things, like the teaching style, and the way that we operate here is really similar to have a lot of colleges operate. I’m really grateful that I was able to experience that.”

All of that hard work pays off, according to senior Mary Elhakam. Elhakam applied for an early admission, and was recently accepted into her first choice, Albright College.

“I applied over the summer,” she says smoothly, “and I got in.”

Though she pronounces that she hasn’t been too busy with tasks as other students may be, Elhakam says that being accepted is “relieving.”

The college process still isn’t completely over for Elhakam, however. Elhakam is still applying for schools in case anything changes or if any new, interesting opportunities come along.

Though the college process may seem daunting, students are likely to find that the iSchool is prepared to guide each and every student through it. Urena confidently states that she feels like she has a solid idea of where her future is going: “I have a list of schools,” she smiles, “and I’d be happy to get into any one.”