By Bella Sarbora, Staff Writer

August 1st. Some may think of this date as just a beautiful summer day, but every high school senior recognizes it for another reason. College applications are released. Everyone is worried, wondering how many essays Chapel Hill is asking for, or if App State requires recommendations. 

One thing we’ve realized is that being enthusiastic and excited about college doesn’t automatically translate into being productive. Sure, you’ve written one or two essays and filled in some basic information, but between sports, school and the ever-shortening amount of beach days, most of us have been struggling to make true progress. 

There are those who are done, those who have yet to start, and those who are doing just fine. Senior Emma Gibbons puts herself in the latter category.

“I’m through with all the personal and family questions (for Common App), I just need to answer the questions the colleges ask,” Gibbons said. 

Like most, Gibbons wishes she hadn’t waited until the last minute. 

“(My advice is) to start early so you can get it out of the way, and to talk to a friend about what they’re doing,” Gibbons said. 

On the other hand, senior Logan Schatz is waiting for that deadline motivation to get started. 

“I’ve been just kind of waiting to get everything together so I can figure out what I want to put on my application,” Schatz said.

With the looming October early-action cutoff, he doesn’t plan on waiting much longer.

“I’m hoping to start them soon though, depending on how little or how much I have to put on there,” Shatz said

However, senior Olivia Sugg hasn’t broken a sweat, with only a few extra touches left until she hits submit.

“I’ve been working with an academic adviser in Charlotte who has been helping me for the last three or four years,” Sugg said.

Working and planning for years has paid off, to a degree. Taking scholarships into consideration ups the workload. 

“I finished my personal statement at the end of last year, (and) I’m mostly done getting basic information for each school, but there are so many (essays),” Sugg said. “I’m sending about 16 small ones to Chapel Hill.”

But who’s on track? Should you already be done, should you not have even started yet? Our new college counselor, Bryanna Ledbetter, can help answer these questions. 

“I am a part of the Carolina College Advising Corps, which is partnered with UNC Chapel Hill and AmeriCorps to place advisers in schools that need better access to college resources,” Ledbetter said. 

She can do anything from proofread an essay to help build your resume from scratch and if you’re not planning on going to college, Ledbetter has a plan for you, too. 

“As a partnership with Mr. Wallen and the rest of the guidance team, we’re focusing on more than just college,” Ledbetter said. We don’t want to push anyone to go who doesn’t want to.”

For those of you who are maybe a little behind, Ledbetter has some advice. 

“I would say that we can still make this work. I would want to sit down with them and learn about their interests, what they’re interested in studying and what schools they like,” Ledbetter said. “I would help break down the admissions process, because there’s a lot of moving parts.” 

No matter how many (or few) essays you’ve written, questions answered, or recommendations sent in, there are resources and advisers ready to help. You can ask Bryanna Ledbetter at [email protected], and if you haven’t yet signed up, the link for your applications can  be found here: https://www.commonapp.org/

Senior Bella Sarbora can be reached at [email protected]