It is Senior Year and you are applying to many different Universities and Colleges, I know I was in your shoes this time last year. It is overwhelming, keeping up with all of the due dates, for early admission, for when your test scores need to be in, don’t forget about FAFSA or your letters of recommendation.
First and foremost I will say the most cliché thing you will hear this entire college application and search process, and capitalize it for emphasis: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. You will hear it a million times, everyone says it, but it could not be more true. Trust me, I was just as annoyed as you when everyone kept telling me that everything happened for a reason.
It is annoying to hear the same thing over and over, but as you start/finish up applications, just know you can’t do anything to change the past. You cannot go and change that “C” you got in Honors Chemistry Sophomore year. Another cliché, “the past is in the past”. Everything you have done the past 3 years of high school is done, you just have to focus on making everything you have done look good.
Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself, tell the schools how amazing you are and tell them just how much they want you. You have good grades? Good, but so does every other applicant. Your essays, supplements and activities set you apart, spend time on them. Basically you’re writing a letter to your school saying, “hey, I’m perfect and different, pick me!” Convince them that they want you.
Only apply to schools you can see yourself at. I went a bit overboard with the amount of schools I applied to, and I ultimately cut 3 schools off my list right out of the gate. Don’t waste your time, money or energy on schools you cannot picture yourself at, instead focus that energy on a school you really want to go to. Research the schools, if a big school atmosphere is important to you, don’t apply to a smaller school without a football team, if you are worried about paying tuition, don’t apply to a small private liberal arts school. Apply to schools that fit you.
Apply early if you can, if it is non-binding. When you apply early you find out early, easing your stress a little bit. The first school I was accepted to I found out early December, although I do not go to school there it was amazing to know I was going to college somewhere! Also it was great to be able to tell family members at holiday events, “yeah, I’m going to college”. If a college’s early decision/early action is binding, I would advise against using it. You do not know what kind of grants and scholarships other schools will give you, avoid binding applications!
If your applications are in before Christmas/Holiday Break Senior year, your Winter Break will be one hundred times better, trust me. Get everything done before you get those weeks off of school, because when it is done, it is done.
You just have to wait. The waiting game is hard, what comforted me was knowing I couldn't do anything to fix or change my application. Just relax and enjoy the next month or two without any college applications or forms to fill out, that FAFSA sneaks up on you, watch out.
When you get your responses back, celebrate! You did it, you got into college! If you are waitlisted or deferred, that is not rejected, you could still get in, but also don't put all of your faith into that happening. If you get into multiple schools and you have already decided on a couple you will forsure not go to, just let them know, because they have waitlists too and if you are waitlisted, you would know how much that could help someone get into their “number 1 school”.
When you get your rejection letters, know that you’ll be okay. Also if you didn’t get any rejection letters, go you, but also you didn't apply to enough stretch schools (unless you're really just that smart). If you are rejected, just remember that it happened for a reason, you were meant to go to a different school. It is okay to cry, sometimes it is hard, but just know you will probably have an amazing experience at the school you end up at, and cannot even imagine going to the school that rejected you, because that is what happened to me.
How to decide which school to go to? Well that is for another article another time. But in short, choose a school you love, choose a place you would like to spend the next 4 years, choose a University you can call home. Make sure you are choosing your school for you and not anyone else.
After you decide remember to share it on social media everywhere, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, even Snapchat, show off your school spirit and use your hashtag ASAP! For example, I posted the cover picture on Instagram and used #NCSU20, you get to see who else is an incoming Freshman through the hashtags and start making friends right away!
