Senior Musings on College Apps - Maya Ash and Marianne Peña

Applying to colleges is something that crosses the minds of many teenagers around the world. Our school is no different with many bright and curious minds, so this prompted us to gather the opinions of our senior class by asking them a few questions of their personal experiences in the college application process. Nearing the end of high school, college is fresh in the minds of students so we saw it fit to answer questions and showcase them to our readers.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: One senior gave us a response along the lines of, hoping to attend a four year college to further their education. Other students also expressed a desire to get school out of the way and finish with a degree as soon as possible. On the contrary, others wanted to take on a gap year, and take a break from school to explore different learning methods and gain a certain independence. Each student had their own individual plans for their lives after high school, but many were centered around plans and had very hopeful lives ahead.

Q: Based on your experience, what should you do to prepare for applying to college?

A: We were met with many different opinions. A lot of people thought that starting early was a best bet to getting fully prepared for college, while others saw that a more relaxed approach was going to get you where you wanted to be. Be that as it may, lots of responses were tied into stress and anxiety surrounding the college applications process, and insights on the best ways to manage these complexes as the years go by. Whether it was to focus on the present and enjoy the now or getting your life organized to tailor a sense of security. And when it came to choosing the right schools there was an overwhelming presence of finding a place that was a perfect fit for them, rather than a school that they must contort themselves into to become the perfect fit. One interviewee even said, “because at the end of the day, it’s me going to college, not my parents or my friends.”

Q: How do you feel now that you’re applying to colleges?

A: With that there were people who were in awe of themselves, having gotten through high school and now ready to move on into adulthood. Feelings of stress and being challenged with the shift in responsibilities and attitudes, though, overtook many participants. Students were also feeling overwhelmed with the application deadlines and juggling friends, family, work, school, and prospects of the future.

Q: On a scale from 1-10, how stressed have you been?

A: The average out of all the people we interviewed was 7. (Although the total tally seemed really high, considering that all the respondents had very well thought out answers.)

Q: What does college mean to you?

A: In this instance there were many big ideas that were revealing themselves about how students think about college. To a first generation contributor, furthering their education was a means to create a more comfortable lifestyle than the ones their parents had endured. That meant that college was a sort of pressure, but in the end a would-be relief. This specific person also felt a lot of excitement to get their lives going, while others had different sentiments. One of the more popular ideas was about college being a tool, rather than a must. Students thought college to be practical and an organized form of learning, especially those pursuing careers in STEM. Overall, many students came to the same conclusion that whatever their personal feelings towards college were, it is all about someone's personal journey, whether they want to attend college or not.

Q: What advice or tips would you give to underclassmen who plan on applying to colleges in the future?

A: And with many useful responses, ones that stood out are the most insightful when it comes to the mindset that you develop, like the recommendation that tells underclassmen to not force an emphasis on rankings or stats, because these numbers will not define you. Another comment tells underclassmen to really engage in the social aspect of high school, as in finding clubs and activities that best suit your interests, as well as pushing yourself academically by trying to take harder classes.