College application season is now underway

Brynn Kightlinger

November 7, 2025

High school seniors are beginning their college application process

“The most stressful part [of college applications] is either the essays for UC applications and common app, or the family history because I have to ask my parents for a lot of information about their education, salary and stuff like that,” said Shaylee Torres ’26. Graphic by: Brynn Kightlinger.

As the 2025-26 school year begins to enter the fall season, seniors are commencing their college application process. This process consists of writing, letters of recommendation and for many students, stress. Cal State University applications for the fall 2026 term opened on Oct. 1 and Universities of California opened their applications on Aug. 1.

“The college application process has been another thing added to my plate. It’s stressful to think about especially with other assignments and projects but it is also super exciting,” said Shaylee Torres ‘26.

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the UC system received an approximate total of 207,000 freshman applications in 2024 from students in California while CSUs saw around 212,000. “I think we’re blessed in California with not only amazing Cal States and UCs, but our community colleges too. We have a lot of students go through community college. Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College are the two popular ones,” said college and career counselor Patricia Roberts.

“All of my teachers still give me lots of homework so I have no time to work on applications. I also don’t know how to apply because I’m first generation and my brother didn’t apply straight out of high school so I have no first-hand mentors,” said Lily Sheldon ‘26.

The VHS College and Career Center has many assets to offer for seniors applying to colleges and even offers incentives for applying before deadlines. On Nov. 24, the center hosting an “Apply for a Pie” event where seniors who submit their college applications before Thanksgiving Break receive a free piece of pie. Along with that, they are hosting a college application workshop week through Oct. 20-24 for Common, CSU, Ventura College and UC Applications. Anyone interested in attending the workshop needs to have a chromebook or laptop.

“I don’t want anyone to ever have to spend the money hiring a private advisor even though I know some people do because I feel like that should be free and available to you all. So that is why we try to do as many of the group things that we have with college application week coming up,” said Roberts.

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About the Contributor

Brynn Kightlinger, Online Editor in Chief

Brynn Kightlinger is a junior at VHS in her third year at The Cougar Press. She is excited to interview people around campus. She enjoys sports, smoothies and sandwiches.