AS DECEMBER ROLLS IN, most people think about holiday breaks and Christmas. But for high school students — especially seniors — it’s often the opposite. Between college applications, finals, major projects, and extracurriculars, many describe December as the most stressful month of the year.
According to the American Institute of Stress, teens deal with stress daily from school, family, social life, and major life changes, often without the same coping skills adults develop. The American Psychological Association in 2024 reported that 70% of U.S. teens identify anxiety or depression as major issues, 75% say they experience negative emotions in school, and on a 10-point stress scale, teens average 5.8, far above the adult average of 3.8. In addition, 75% of high schoolers and half of middle schoolers feel stressed because of schoolwork.
At Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch, 12th grader Sandy Ann says balancing AP classes and extracurriculars such as HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and Key Club is “incredibly stressful.” When asked about the toughest part of December, she said, “Oh, most definitely college deadlines … having to gather up all your information, and letters of recommendations, and having to think back on your whole academic career is like, really hard to process and handle.”
College deadlines weigh heaviest
Taylor Liang, also a 12th grader at Dozier-Libbey, adds that he struggled to find time for activities he loves, including MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), swimming and tennis. “In December, I just really can’t find the time to do some of these activities, especially with finals and college applications,” he said.
Students at different schools share similar feelings. Many said the most stressful part of December isn’t finals: it’s college deadlines. Applications for the University of California system, California State University campuses, and the Common App — used for 1,000 member colleges nationwide — overlap, increasing the pressure seniors feel in December.
“Finding the time to do things during the day that aren’t school-related — that’s the biggest challenge,” said Bella Rose, a 12th grader at Deer Valley High School in Antioch.
To stay organized, many students rely on reminders, alarms, planners, or binders. “I set constant, like repeating reminders,” Ann admitted, laughing about how many alarms she uses. Students also found various ways to cope and stay organized, such as joining study groups, talking with counselors, taking short breaks, eating, or breaking tasks into smaller chunks.
Dozier-Libbey counselors like Elizabeth Maya say they see the pressure up close and want students to know they’re not alone. December can be “overwhelming,” Maya said, calling it a “make-it-or-break-it” month as seniors try to balance tough classes, finals, applications, financial aid, and family responsibilities or home life during winter break.
Counselors urge perspective and planning
Fellow Dozier-Libbey counselor Karen Mahan often reminds students that they don’t have to figure everything out right away. “Don’t get too snobby about it. … I really do believe the universe sends you where you’re supposed to be,” she said. “Life takes you in different directions and it’s not good or bad, it just is.”
She also reassures students that change is normal, especially during stressful months. “If you didn’t like how things went, then try something different,” she said. “I don’t like change either, but I have to remind myself that change happens. Going to college is terrifying. It’s fun, but it’s OK to be scared of big changes. Don’t make that fear stop you from doing it.”
Mahan also advises practical strategies: planning ahead, understanding deadlines, and being realistic about your workload. “Even when you come back, if it’s still not working, again, sometimes you go forward and you make a left-hand turn because this is the new path, and that’s OK. You really are OK.”
Dominic Gonzalez, now a sophomore at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, remembers the shift from high school to college. “The transition from being a senior in high school to starting college was pretty stressful,” he said. “There was a lot going on at the time. I had sports, I had college applications, and it was just a bunch of work getting piled up all at once.”
Looking back, he added, “But once it was all over, it felt like a big relief. … I’m glad that whole December of senior year is behind me. It was a rough month.”
Vi Nguyen is an 11th grader at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch and a CCYJ reporter. This story originally appeared in CCSpin.