This time of year, thoughts of college applications can be all-consuming. While this sort of stress may have provided at least a little helpful motivation in the fall, application season is mostly over and there’s usually nothing left to do but wait for results. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably spending a lot of time thinking about it. (For that matter, if you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it!) With that in mind, here are 11 things that are better to think about, practice, or do than wonder whether or not a college admissions officer will find your application sufficiently “well-rounded.” (WHAT does that even MEAN? Don’t think about it. Check out this stuff instead!)
- Online coloring books. All the fun of coloring, none of the fuss of having to pay for anything or actually, like, know how art works.
- Free Rice. It’s a website that donates rice if you answer vocabulary questions correctly. Learn something, donate something, it’s good all around.
- If you plug in the name of any actor, this website will show you a series of connections between them and Kevin Bacon.
- Want to see space? Commercial space travel is still a decade or so off, at a minimum, but you can watch NASA livestream stuff from space here.
- Play Tetris. It’s a classic! Is it the most exciting game? No. Is it better than refreshing your email to see if anyone has gotten back to? Oh heck yes.
- I love literally everything that’s been published on The Toast. They’ve got short stories, they’ve got personal essays, they’ve got humor pieces–you’ll find something that floats your boat.
- I’m not your mom, but maybe go outside and, I dunno, breathe some fresh air or something?
- As a staff member of The Wellesley News, I am contractually obligated to suggest you check out some of our most recent articles. Find out a little more about the school you might be going to from students’ perspectives!
- This website publishes exclusively good news. I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use that some days.
- “Zombies, Run!” is an app that can make working out more fun by offering a narration that makes you feel like you’re not just running, you’re navigating a mission during the zombie apocalypse. If you straight up hate exercising–I sure do–maybe this will help?
- Read this Wikipedia article about people who live or have lived in airports. It’s hilarious to me. I don’t know why, it just is. I’m banking on it amusing some other people too! If you’ve gotten this far, you must be a little desperate, so maybe give it a shot?
Whether or not you try anything on the list, I hope you find some way to de-stress and not fret too much over your college apps. I know how hard it can be to disconnect when it feels like your whole future is hanging in the balance, but A. It’s not, and B. Obsessing over it will change your mood, not your results. Sending you love and best wishes!