Every year, a new wave of high school students dive headfirst into the college chaos, chasing prestige, panicking over résumés, and thinking they have to do everything . But one student who’s been through the ringer came back with some golden advice for the Class of 2026: chill. Breathe. And maybe don’t try to be everything, everywhere, all at once.
You don’t have to be “well-rounded”—you have to be you.
“If I could go back in time, I would stop trying to be someone I’m not,” the student shared. There’s this pressure to be a debate-winning, STEM-researching, nonprofit-starting, violin-playing prodigy. But colleges? They’re not looking for chaos. “Don’t fall into the trap of doing everything just to ‘look impressive.’” Focus on what actually brings you joy—and go all in on that. Passion > padding.
Start early, but don’t panic if your vibe changes.
“I thought I wanted to be pre-med,” they wrote. “I was wrong.” High school isn’t a straight line. It’s a chaotic little maze where you’re supposed to get lost a few times. That’s okay. Don’t force yourself into a mold just because it sounds Ivy League-approved. Try stuff. Quit stuff. Pivot without guilt. The real flex is knowing yourself.
Depth > clout. Always.
You don’t need to chase “Top 100 Internships for High Schoolers.” What matters more? Going deep into the things that actually light you up. “I ended up writing my personal statement about my part-time job,” the student shared. “It was honest and grounded and meant something to me.” That authenticity hits different—especially when every other essay starts with a generic mission trip or research paper.
You’re not a spreadsheet—you’re a story.
It’s easy to turn high school into a checklist. But at the end of the day, admissions officers aren’t admitting Excel files—they’re admitting people . People who show up, who grow, who care about something bigger than just an acceptance letter. “Colleges want to know who you are without the trophy shelf,” they said. So stop stressing over the “perfect” activity list and start building a story that’s actually yours .
Protect your peace—it matters.
Burnout isn’t a flex. Hustling 24/7 to outshine your peers might look productive, but it’s not sustainable. “Junior year nearly broke me,” they admitted. “Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I didn’t know when to say no.” Rest is part of the process. Take breaks. Hang with friends. Watch dumb YouTube videos. Your mental health is not a trade-off for an acceptance letter.
Final Vibe Check:
The truth? You don’t need to do the most to get into a great school. You just need to do you , consistently and authentically. Start where you are. Get curious. Go deep. And when it comes time to hit submit, trust that your story—not your stats —is what will actually make you stand out.
