You prepare all summer for this moment. Blood, sweat, and tears went into the forging of a masterpiece. As the clock winds down, the reality of the situation begins to settle in. Before clicking send, make sure to run through your entire application for errors — check that; run through it another time for good measure. The time has come to hit submit. Your reward? Nothing. Nothing but the sheer satisfaction of being put on hold for another six weeks.

So … now what? The last several months have been devoted to boosting your resume with obscure clubs and random community service. Your only friend during this process was Naviance, who was always there to support you through your highs and lows with her charming ways. Now, you can talk to others who won’t shout about what your personality type means for your career path — yes, you can also have a conversation without bringing up your ACT scores. Friday nights no longer need to be dedicated to exaggerating how many activity hours you have. The number 650 will never again be as important to remember as your social security number.

Gone are the days where you’re lowkey using your Chromebook in class to finish up that dastardly Common App essay. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. If only you could write this essay after you open your dream college’s admittance decision letter …

The importance of this application should not be understated. I mean, choosing a college is only the biggest decision you’ve made in your 18-year-old life; the next four years are hinged upon these 650-word essays and if the teacher writing your recommendation letter doesn’t hate you too much. No longer are your parents going to be able to babysit you. It’s now the true beginning of your own adulthood, your independence. No big deal.

But it seems like just yesterday you were that awkward freshman trying to write an essay on how the conch in Lord of the Flies is a symbol of order and power for lit class. Tumbling through Driver’s Ed was a tedious task, but well worth the reward. If you get rejected from your dream college, it’s not like it’s a feeling that you haven’t experienced before during your homecoming ask. Four years and seven semesters later and now it’s time to decide. Time flies as fast as how long it takes to get from class to class during a passing period.

The weeks of November go by; you enjoy your turkey and, next thing you know, it’s already December, a few weeks away from D-Day (decision day). You reflect on your application, wondering what could have been better. Maybe if you would have actually cared in that blow-off class. Maybe if you would have gotten your ACT together and prepared for the big test. Maybe if you didn’t have an 89 in that one class right before finals. Time is ticking; the day of your Last Judgment is approaching, yet it’s still so far away as to keep you teased even longer.

This dilemma parallels the mystique of Schrödinger’s cat. You’re both accepted and denied at the same time; your fate will only be revealed when you crack open the letter. I guess you can say your curiosity kills the vibe.

The jolly, everyday mailman arrives at your driveway and deposits the message into your mailbox as you lurk in the background. The plot thickens as you open the seal and read: Dear distressed LHS student, if you’re reading this …