Back-to-School Stress for High School Students: Preparing for College Applications

July 16, 2025
Posted by Margie Crespo
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Backpacks are packed, the school bell’s ringing, and for high school juniors and seniors, one word is echoing louder than the rest: college. From personal statements to deadlines, recommendation letters to standardized test prep, the college application season is a full-time job on top of school, activities, and real life.

It’s no wonder that a recent Pew Research Center study found that seven in ten U.S. teens cite anxiety and depression as major problems among their peers, making academic pressure one of the top mental health challenges during the school year.

But here’s the truth: college dreams don’t have to come at the cost of mental health. With the right tools, routines, and support, students can move through application season with more calm, clarity, and confidence.

What Makes This Season So Overwhelming?

College application stress isn’t just about time management, it’s also about identity, self-worth, and the unknown. Students may be:

Comparing themselves to peers’ achievements or “perfect” résumés
Struggling to manage expectations from parents, teachers, or coaches
Dealing with decision fatigue and fear of rejection
Losing sleep and focus under the pressure of looming deadlines

If you're a student, caregiver, or educator, you’ve likely seen these effects firsthand and know how easy it is for stress to derail not just progress, but self-esteem.

Ways to Stay Grounded Through the Process

You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine to feel better. Try starting with these supportive strategies:

1. Create a Clear Timeline — and Breathe Room into It
Breaking tasks into smaller steps can help reduce mental clutter and increase motivation. Add “buffer time” into your schedule for breaks, setbacks, and re-dos.

2. Focus on What You Can Control
You can’t change how competitive a school is, but you can decide how to take care of yourself today. A healthy snack, a deep breath, or a night off social media are small wins that add up.

3. Regulate Your Stress in Real Time with TouchPoints™
When overwhelm hits, your nervous system can go into overdrive — heart racing, brain fog, spiraling thoughts. TouchPoints wearable devices use gentle, alternating vibrations to calm your body’s “fight or flight” response. In just 30 seconds, you can feel more grounded, which means better focus for your essay, test, or college tour.

TouchPoints support several of the Six Dimensions of Health, including:

Healthy Thinking – Reframe rejection and keep perspective
Mindfulness – Stay present instead of spiraling about the future
Sleep – So your brain gets to rest and reset

You’re Not Defined by a Decision Letter

Your worth isn’t measured by where you get in, it’s measured by how you show up, how you care for yourself, and how you keep going when things get hard. College is just one chapter. Make sure you protect your peace while writing it.

Support That Goes Beyond the Application

Navigating college applications can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re a student preparing your Common App or a parent supporting from the sidelines, TouchPoints can help you manage stress in real time, so you can focus on what matters most. Remember, you're not alone on this journey, and support is always available.