A new school year has begun and many seniors are stressing over turning in their college applications on time. The stress over which school to choose and which school is right has officially begun.
“Don’t wait until the last minute to get teacher recommendations or write the essay,” senior Christina Cabble said. “It’s overwhelming.”
There are many parts to a college application, such as personal information, educational background, test scores, extra curricular activities, transcripts and recommendation letters. The hardest part for many students is the essay.
“Essay questions are hard to know where to start,” senior Philip Rosen said. “I mean you’re basically supposed to boil down your existence into a series of two or three essays so college admissions officers feel like they know you.”
Cabble agrees that the essay section is the most stressful part of the whole application.
“The hardest part is writing the essays for each college,” Cabble said, “because each one is different and my future depends on what I write.”
Some colleges want to know other places the students have also applied. Applying to too many does not look good and students should apply to at least one that they are sure of admission.
“I’m looking at applying to five,” Rosen said. “I know some people who applied to 10-15. I think they are slightly crazy.”
Scholarships are also important because it can be difficult to get them without having the best grades.
“A lot of places offer scholarships for National Merit, so the PSAT’s can be important,” Rosen said.
However, students who are talented in sports or performing arts get scholarship offers to continue doing them at the collegiate level.
“I did get some offers from some smaller schools for soccer,” Cabble said. “I like soccer but I don’t want to commit to intense soccer.”
All colleges require recommendation letters. They want to hear from a teacher what the students’ work ethic and personality are like.
Cabble suggests starting early in finding a reliable teacher.
“I advise asking a teacher a month in advance before the letter is due,” Cabble said.
Some schools have special requirements like subject tests or other necessary classes for certain majors.
“The big science schools ask for any lab experience and a lot of extra math,” Cabble said.
Nowadays colleges do not want just the old smart bookworm type of kid. They want someone who stands out in the crowd with something extra that they can bring to the college.
“I’ve got my good grades, test scores, my theatre and my writing. Maybe that’ll be enough,” Rosen said.
Students need to determine if they are ready for college yet and if they can handle life on their own with no one to hold their hand and guide them.
“Independence,” Rosen said. “I think I can handle it, but I do like having other people do the laundry and cooking for me.”
