I love the advice from Jason Fried (CEO of Basecamp) in this article because I think it applies to far more than just business:
“Instead of spending your time worrying about what could, might, or may happen, spend your time on what matters now. Are your customers thrilled with your service today? Is your inbox flooded with word-of-mouth referrals today? Do your employees love their jobs today? Can people find what they’re looking for on your website today? Be honest with yourself. If the answers aren’t satisfactory, then I’d suggest that you truly have something to worry about—no matter how beautiful and comprehensive your business plan is.”
Almost all of the anxiety around college admissions comes from worrying about things that either haven’t happened yet or are not entirely in your control (or both). The more time you spend worrying about whether or not your GPA is high enough or your test scores are good enough or your activities are impressive enough, the less attention and energy you have to expend on what you’re doing today. And today is what really matters.
Instead of spending your time worrying about whether or not your dream colleges will say yes, spend your time on what matters now. Are you pushing yourself to learn as much as you can in school today? Are you committing yourself enthusiastically to activities that make you happy today? Are you trying to be a good person and treat people right today? Are you taking responsibility for your education and your future today? Be honest with yourself. While you can influence what happens with colleges tomorrow, you can’t control that outcome entirely. So focus on what you can control—what are you doing today?