Applying to university can be stressful. From choosing what universities to apply to, putting together your application, writing your personal profile and then – once you’ve applied – waiting to hear back from schools, it can be a nerve-wracking time in your final year of high school.
To help, current UBC students who have been though the admissions process give their tips on managing stress.
Tips for managing stress when applying to university
Use your community.
“Take advantage of the community around you! Remember that you are not going through this alone. Discuss essay topics with other prospective students to get different perspectives, reach out to current UBC students for advice, and ask teachers and mentors to proofread your personal profile. You’ve already done the hard work over the years, now all you have to do is tell UBC about it!”
– Jessica J., fourth year Political Science student
Take care of yourself.
“Applying for university can be a stressful time, so make sure you are taking care of yourself. I remember feeling really nervous when writing my application. When I get overwhelmed with a task, I like to call a friend, go for a walk, or do some yoga. After taking a break, you can come back with a clearer head. Most importantly, remember to be confident in yourself and your accomplishments. You are awesome and have worked hard to be where you are now, so trust that things will work out how they are meant to.”
– Marleigh M., fifth year Philosophy student
Focus on what you can control and make time for activities that help you recharge.
“One of the biggest things I learned was not to compare myself to others. Everyone hears back at different times. Some receive early offers while others wait longer, and that’s completely normal. Trust your own journey. It also helped me to stay focused on what I could control, like submitting a strong application and staying organized with deadlines. Make time for activities that help you recharge. For me, taking breaks, spending time with friends, and keeping a positive mindset made a big difference in managing stress.”
– Jasmine L., fourth year Commerce student
The process is about finding the right fit for YOU.
“First, just acknowledge that it is stressful. It’s a big step and that’s valid. What helped me was keeping up with hobbies, leaning into things that actually made me happy, and continuing to focus on school since grades still matter after you apply. I also tried to reframe the process: you’re not just trying to impress someone, you’re finding the right fit for YOU. That helped shift the mindset from stress to curiosity (at least sometimes!).”
– Zaina A., fourth year Honours Psychology student
Once your application is submitted, it’s out of your hands.
“This was easily one of the most challenging parts of the process for me, especially after submitting the application. Something I had to work really hard at convincing myself of is that once that application is submitted, it is completely out of your hands what happens, and the best thing to do is take advantage of your senior year/final year before university!”
– Lori K., third year International Economics student
Know that things will work out.
“When UBC was the last school left that I hadn’t heard back from, I started to feel anxious, especially knowing it was my top choice of university. But, something that helped me was knowing that these feelings of stress are normal, and many of my peers were feeling the same way. I also felt a lot more at ease when I took a step back and thought about the bigger picture: I considered how lucky I was to have the chance to attend university, regardless of where I ended up! Though I wouldn’t change my UBC experience for the world, I wish that, in that moment, someone had told me that things would work out no matter what happened during the admissions process.”
– Emma M-R., Sociology + Master of Management dual degree student