A scarf around her neck and a cold in her chest, Lauren Greenwood coughs. No, she said, there's no way a cold will stop her from completing her college applications.
Her 10 college applications.
She pledges to send them off to schools such as Harvard and Stanford despite a full schedule that includes singing in a jazz band concert, holiday preparations, organizing a school anti-bullying campaign and studying.
Finals, family obligations, jobs, clubs and private college applications are vying for students' time this time of year.
"Jan. 1 is when all the applications are due," said Greenwood. "I'm trying to get it done as soon as I can. Hopefully, it will all come together."
Cough. Cough.
Each year, students sweat out the January deadlines to apply to private schools.
Along with the applications, students must submit test scores, essays, transcripts and letters of recommendations from teachers and counselors.
Greenwood, an 18-year-old senior at Elk Grove Unified's Pleasant Grove High School, has a laundry list of accomplishments, including being a student body president, a cheerleader and a Latino youth leader. She is not a procrastinator.
But she is feeling the heat – and it's not a fever from her cold.
"I have a lot of extracurricular commitments," she said. "I'm doing my best to maintain a balance and do my applications. I'm getting sick, so maybe something is telling me to slow down."
Her Pleasant Grove High School counselor, Teresa Schmutte, has seen the last-minute rush many times in her 24 years as a counselor.
"Sometimes they simply don't get their material together in enough time for me to write the best letter of recommendation," she said.
The November deadline for the California State University and University of California systems is already past.
Mira Loma counselor Joan Adams said big projects, seminars and papers can overwhelm students just when applications must be sent off.
"For some private colleges, students are definitely under the gun right now," she said. "Students sometimes wait to the last minute and procrastinate. That just adds stress to the process and does not help them in any way."
She prefers that students get private college applications in before Dec. 10.
Adams works with students in Mira Loma's International Baccalaureate program, a rigorous course of study.
"I guess I see more procrastination because I see more students applying to so many selective schools each year," Adams said.
She has seen the flip side of procrastination – organized students who have files and meet each deadline without batting an eye. Still, even the most prepared student can be thrown a curve.
With the UC application due date approaching last month, Mira Loma's Sean Rooney suffered appendicitis. A hospital stay stretched to 10 days.
Cool under pressure, he recovered and filed his application six hours before the deadline to four campuses.
"That's earlier than a lot of kids get it in who have been working on them for a lot of time," said his proud mother, Teresa Rooney.
Her son, looking forward to the winter break last Friday, said he plans to apply to three private schools with Jan. 1 deadlines.
"I have quite a bit of it done," said Rooney. "I'm not too stressed."
Rajeev Prasad, another Mira Loma IB student, said it is hard to find time for his applications because of a heavy schoolwork load.
He plans to apply to Stanford, Princeton, Northwestern, and University of Pennsylvania – all with Jan. 1 application deadlines.
"To tell you the truth, I'm actually way behind," he said. "I'll be spending four or five hours a day soon just on applications."
The deadline to apply to the University of the Pacific is Jan. 15. UOP Associate Provost for Enrollment Tom Rajala sympathizes with students who apply to many colleges.
"The key is to take a deep breath and realize it will get done if you sit down and just do it," he said. "Now, we are seeing students apply to 15 colleges. It is indicative of what is called 'admissions frenzy.' "
Greenwood's parents, who are supportive, help her with the application process. She also lauded her high school counselors.
"I'm going to be focused on college," said Greenwood. "I know I'm going to drive my family crazy, but I know it is going to get done."
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
