This semester, I started filling out applications for graduate school. It has honestly been one of the most stressful and exciting processes. It's exciting that I'm getting ready to graduate with my Bachelor's degree that I've worked so hard for, and really focusing on what I want for my future. The stressful part is everything that comes with applying: deciding the schools, application fees, recommendation letters, it's all overwhelming. It's interesting how it completely stressed me out, yet got me very excited, all at the same time.

I've always known I wanted a master's degree since I watched my brother earn his master's in 2012. It was such an honor to witness, I wanted this for myself.

However, I was definitely (and still am) a student that struggles to get good grades. This is because of my anxiety disorder. I can study more than anyone else, yet my anxiety is what makes me struggle. I just try harder than many other students do. Getting a master's degree would prove to myself that if I put my mind to anything, I can achieve it, and not allow my anxiety to hold me back.

Ever since my sophomore year of college, I knew I wanted to get a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (being a Psychology major, there is no doubt you need your master's in order to get a job). My Counseling and Wellness Center helped me tremendously with my issues with anxiety. I want to work in a Higher Education setting and help college students with their anxiety, just like the counselors in that office did with me and so many other students.

Now in my senior year of college, the time finally came to start applying to graduate schools. My top choice's deadline is December 1st, and I also applied to another school, so I decided in October to get the ball rolling.

The first nerve-wracking part was asking for recommendation letters. This shouldn't sound like it is the hard part, but I was actually very nervous with this. Thankfully, once I asked the three professionals to write me one, they were more than willing to help me with my letters. Two already submitted them, and I am still waiting on one more. The earlier you ask, the better!

The next step was to look at other application requirements. One school had so many requirements for it, it took me at least two weeks to fill everything out completely. There were definitely some bumps in the road with this one. My scanner wasn't working for my unofficial transcript, and my first draft of the essay was written wrong. It got very stressful, but I did the application in increments so I wasn't overwhelmed. This definitely helped me, I felt more on top of the application.

The application for my top school was a lot less expensive! I also got to meet with an admissions counselor on the campus, and I absolutely loved it and loved the program. My fingers are crossed I get accepted!

If you are looking to apply to graduate school, my advice is the earlier, the better. Professors are already getting bombarded with letters, and the Registrar's office is receiving many requests to mail official transcripts.

If you apply later, then your materials may not be sent on time. If you also apply early, you will probably get your acceptance results early as well. Also, save as much money as possible for your applications! Each application has their own fee, which is probably $50 and over. You have to pay to send over transcripts, pay to send GRE scores if needed, it can become very costly.

But believe me, it may be stressful, but in the end, it will be worth it all!