Welcome to Stress U.

When she graduates high school on June 13, Katherine White will let out one big sigh of relief.

It’s been an intense couple of years for the senior, who decided to take on extra work to graduate early. She arrived at Horace Furness High School, Third and Mifflin streets, in November 2003 as a sophomore.

White soon was thrust into a brand-new world that included additional classes, SATs and college applications.

The 17-year-old shares the burdens of high-school seniors across the area, who are only months away from taking the leap into collegiate life.

But before partaking in all-night study sessions or beer-pong tournaments, these students must trudge through their final days of high school.

White has found time in between her eight classes to complete four college applications.

Her top choice: The State University of New York College at Oneonta.

"It’s out of my comfort zone. It’s in New York, but it will be a good experience," said White, of the 500 block of Queen Street.

The student was drawn to the school because of its psychology program and a rather unique activity – a traveling poetry group.

But White will travel elsewhere if SUNY at Oneonta fails to provide financial aid.

"I think any college will give me a good education. I’ll be leaving with a degree," said White, who is waiting for a response from the school. "I would love to go to Oneonta, but if [tuition] is an issue, I’m quite fine with going somewhere else."

The senior also sent applications to Haverford College, Kutztown University and SUNY at Old Westbury.

While a culturally diverse atmosphere is a must for White, she remains very "open-minded" on a field of study.

"I do want to be an adolescent counselor," she said. "But if I find something else that I’m in love with, I’m sure I’ll change my major."

Fellow Furness senior Linda Giddings has no doubts about her career path: She intends to become an obstetrician.

Giddings was accepted to her first choice, Millersville University in Lancaster County.

"It’s not too far away from home, but it is far away from home," quipped Giddings, of the 600 block of Watkins Street.

The student, who received acceptance letters from all six of her college choices, is waiting for financial-aid packages before picking her school. Loans are not an option, she added.

Both students continue to search for scholarships.

Unless Millersville sweetens the deal with a hefty sum, Giddings will register at Temple University, her second choice.

Her workload this year is not backbreaking compared to her junior year, she added.

"Last year took the cake," said Giddings, 17, who is enrolled in six courses. "This year, I have to do work, but it’s nothing to cry about."

The student’s grandmother, Linda Jenkins, has cheered her on throughout her school years and hopes Giddings will pick up life experiences in college.

"I think it would be good for her to live on campus. It teaches them to live on their own, take challenges and will mature her quite a bit," said Jenkins, 57. "I’m going to miss my granddaughter, but believe me, I’m going to be in touch."

SENIORS AT SS. John Neumann-Maria Goretti, 10th and Moore streets, also are busy finishing up last-minute graduation requirements while getting ready for college.

As secretary of the National Honor Society, assistant editor of the school newspaper and a member of the track team, Nick Speca seldom has a free moment.

"Senior year is different than what I thought it was going to be," said Speca, of 13th Street and Oregon Avenue. "It’s hard, but I manage to get through it."

He recently was accepted to Saint Joseph’s University, which was his first choice, and received an academic and track scholarship that he describes as a "good amount."

"My aunt went there and she enjoyed it," said Speca, 17. "I visited the campus and I liked it. Plus, it’s not too far away."

The future business major is still entertaining the thought of living on-campus.

In the meantime, he will earn some dough by working part-time with his father in construction and as a food server at Phillies games.

Another busy Neumann-Goretti student, Jennifer Cassidy, also manages to balance a full workload with extracurricular activities that include newspaper, yearbook and serving as president of the National Honor Society.

Of the seven colleges she applied to, Cassidy, who lives in Deptford, N.J., hopes to hear from the University of Notre Dame very soon. "Every college has a different essay," said the student, who forked out as much as $100 apiece for college application fees. "They asked for different things. It took hours upon hours of time to complete them." Cassidy received presidential scholarships from Saint Joe’s and Gwynedd-Mercy College, but said she would rather take out loans if it means attending one of her top choices, which include Boston College.

Both students said the merger of Neumann and Goretti in September added a bit of stress to their senior year.

"They took both worlds, put them together and tried to figure out how to do everything," said Cassidy, 17.

NEUMANN-GORETTI PRINCIPAL Patricia Sticco pointed to the positive – that more than 90 percent of graduates from the newly merged schools have gone on to college.

In addition, most members of this year’s class were able to avoid the revamped, more writing-intensive SAT.

The new SATs were administered across the country beginning March 12. The test, which now takes an estimated three hours and 45 minutes to complete, includes a 25-minute essay.

While more advanced algebra and critical reading questions were added, quantitative comparisons and extensive analogies were subtracted.

Students now receive scores based on a possible 2,400 points, instead of the old 1,600-point system.

Speca, Cassidy and Furness student Giddings declined to retake the test in its new form.

"People said that if I take them again, I might get a better score," said Giddings. "But then the new SATs came out and I didn’t want to bother with them."

All of the students were content with their scores and described the test as over-hyped.

Now they remain in a limbo of sorts while they await their new lives on college campuses.

"I did all the hard work and accomplished my goals," said White. "I’m tired of the high-school atmosphere and I want to get out."

White, Giddings and Speca have trips planned for the summer. Cassidy said she’ll take a laid-back approach to her pre-college months.

"Sitting by the pool, relaxing, shopping and going to the shore," she said. "But no crazy senior trip to the Bahamas. My mom would kill me."