I counted yesterday; I got over 35 emails about school events, opportunities, clubs, canvas updates, and training notifications. I deleted most of them, as I usually do, hoping that I would not miss an essential email, a deadline, or a useful event. In the past, any email with grad school in the title would be immediately deleted, since I try to minimize my stressing about applications. I know once I start the search, it will be never ending until I finalize my plans. My friends can always tell when I am stressed about something going on because my workspace will be surrounded by sticky notes, to-do lists, and reminders. While applying to undergraduate admissions two years ago, I had to document and organize everything: school statistics, distance from home, and deadlines. Although I am incredibly happy at Cornell and have no regrets choosing to come to Ithaca, except perhaps the weather, I only considered the campus environment and student life at the very end of my selection process. In hindsight, I was lucky. Attending the seminar by Zachary Grobe on applying to graduate schools really encouraged me to rethink my approach to further academia. While he suggested that the first step include some sort of list, the criteria were drastically different than I had originally thought of. Not only that, but he also noted that there were some benefits that grad students received from schools which I had never heard of. I’m really glad I listened to the seminar, since I now know that I will probably be happier if I forgo the rigid, logical structure of data planning at a slightly earlier stage and focus on the potential opportunities with professors and my personal comfort with the university. I have been set on a career for a few years now, and a good experience in my first few years in a lab are crucial to my happiness in the future. I also learned a lot about the statements that I will probably have to write-the key points of which will be stored away in a highly organized grad school folder. I had no idea the process was so different and so complex, and I would have made so many unnecessary mistakes. Although I should not be worrying about grad schools this year, attending this seminar drastically reduced any residual concern I have now and I know it will help me in the future to look back at what I learned today.