Editorial - Diary of a Senior: Application process

Navigating Common App and college research can only be described as this; going through the trenches. I thought Junior year was hard, nothing could have prepared me for semester 1 of senior year. The constant stress of filling out applications, making sure I write the perfect college essay, taking tours, and bothering my guidance counselor every day. I do not want to scare underclassmen into thinking that this experience is awful, it is a long, tedious process in which it is worth it. In the end, it is very rewarding and you should feel so immensely proud of yourself. I am the third in my family to go through the college application and admission process, and I have seen it all. Since I was 7 I was around my sisters and cousins, hearing about their process. I have been thinking about college since I was about 8, and I can proudly say that I have experienced it all. From having no idea what I want to do, to not knowing where to start, to countless nights crying and stressing. I have decided that I want to share some advice and tips for those who may not know where to start or feel overwhelmed!

Now, I would like to proudly share, Mary’s top 10 survival tips that I wish I knew for College Applications

10. It is alright to understand that college is not for everyone! If school is just not your thing, it is okay to go into a trade, a line of service, or take a gap year. There are other options and you have the choice!

9. Get organized! Staying organized is key for all things college. Keeping track of deadlines, tours, SRAR, and the common app is a ton to manage along with your regular day-to-day school work. What worked best for me was taking it on bit by bit and rewarding myself with a sweet treat!

Pro Tip from my mother: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Not everything has to be done in one day, space things out! (unless you leave everything to the last minute)

8. Do not wait until the last minute. You will want to kick yourself when you are filling out an application or finishing writing a supplemental essay at 11:50 when it is due the following day. It is so easy to forget or leave stuff to the last minute. You must understand that the common app and your essay can not be done in an hour, so get a head start when it opens in August!

7. It is okay to ask Guidance questions. They are there for a reason! Asking your guidance counselor questions and for advice/help, will help you relieve a lot of stress. I can’t count the number of times I went to see Ms. Blau in the past two years to ask her questions about college. In the end, all the questions will make the process a lot easier. 

6. Your opinions and feelings matter more than anyone else's. Getting input and advice from family, friends, etc. is important, but do not let their comments influence your decision. People will have their own opinions about a certain college or major, and there are topics that I believe can’t be ignored, like cost, but if you want to go far, or want to go into a major you enjoy/see a future in, go for it.

5. Do not focus on one school As much as it sucks to hear, you need to apply to at least a few schools and have your backups and safety. It is okay to have a "reach" school, but you may get rejected, they may not give you enough money, or it may not be what it seems. Have options! One rule of thumb that people use when applying for college is to apply to some safeties (schools you are sure to get into), Reach schools (schools that may not accept you but are still worth a shot), and target schools (In-between Schools)

4. If you get rejected, it is not the end of the world. Nobody likes to be rejected, but I am a firm believer that people end up where they need to be in the end. No matter how much research you do on a college, you can’t make a judgment until you get there. It could deflate your expectations and not be the right fit for you. You will figure everything out!

3. Be patient. I am also currently in this situation. I applied to Rutgers in October for early action, I was supposed to get my decision in January, but I got deferred to regular decision which I am supposed to find out at the end of February. My patience is gone. Especially with the lack of motivation and the dullness of January-April, I am beyond ready for all the fun things senior year will bring. Just keep going, know the fun events are soon!

2. Once you submit applications, you still need to try. If I am being honest, I need to take this advice as well. It is so incredibly hard to find the motivation to work hard or even come to school. Senioritis hits hard, but it will be worth it in the end when there is prom, senior cruise, graduation, and other fun events! January-April is the homestretch of midterm grades, APs, and the boring parts of the school year. 

1. Be proud of yourself! You have come a long way from looking at colleges, writing out your common app, formulating an essay, asking for letters of recommendation, and just working hard in school. Not everything is gonna go as planned, and you will end up where you need to be. Don't beat yourself up over the little things because you are doing fine!

Please keep in mind that my advice should be taken with a grain of salt. Everyone’s college application experience is different, these are just things I did/didn’t do that helped make everything manageable and stress-relieving. In the end, it is such a rewarding experience and it will all be worth it in the end.

Good luck!