Oh, how stressful it can be: How seniors approach the college application process

By Fern Morrison
Foxcroft Academy senior

    The Class of 2015 is beginning to realize that the college application process is more than just filling out paperwork and writing essays. Students began preparing for SATs their sophomore year and searching for and researching different colleges and universities their junior year. Most of them are currently visiting campuses, getting ready for life-changing interviews, and finalizing their essays.

Photo courtesy of Foxcroft Academy

    LIFE BEYOND FOXCROFT ACADEMY — Foxcroft Academy seniors work with the school’s counselors on the college application process. From left is Angela Smart-Davis, Sarah Phillips ’15, Evelyn Henderson ’15, Kandi Martin, Kevin Xu ‘15 and Lee Pearsall.

    Thirty random seniors were surveyed. The results showed that 96.6 percent of these seniors plan to attend a college or university. Those who have decided that college is not what they’re looking for said that they would like to attend a technical school. Overall, all participants have expressed their hope for a better future for themselves, and college is, according to them, a big part of that future.
    All seniors said that they want to get good jobs after high school graduation. Research conducted by Georgetown University shows that by 2018, approximately 63 percent of all the job openings will require a college degree. It is a no-brainer that having graduated from a college opens more doors into the job market.
    So when asked about some particular examples of desired schools, seniors have mentioned highly selective liberal arts school, like Swarthmore College and Oberlin College; big and small public universities, like the University of Rhode Island and the University of Maine at Farmington; and a few community colleges, like Eastern Maine Community College and Flathead Valley Community College. There are many different schools that the seniors are interested in, many different majors that they would like to declare, and many different things, like location and cost, that they need to consider. However, there is one thing that all seniors have in common: the application process.
    Students are not alone is this process— the school’s guidance counselors have held senior conferences with most of the seniors by now, and they have helped students find the right schools, fill out the required forms as well as just talk about interests and hopes. A senior conference is a one-on-one meeting that allows the guidance counselor and student to work together in identifying specific goals, create a list of potential colleges or work opportunities to meet those goals, and then demarcate the steps needed to complete applications.
    A few words from the staff working in counseling services: “The college application process can be exciting and daunting at the same time. Our goals as school counselors are to make the process go as smoothly as possible and to facilitate a best-fit match between our students and their post-secondary institutions!”
    Foxcroft Academy’s counselors Angela Smart-Davis, Kandi Martin and Lee Pearsall continue to support students throughout the application process, which many find frustrating and worrisome. In addition to taking students on six to eight college trips all over the country each year, the counselors spend countless hours researching information, contacting admissions representatives and facilitating the interview, writing, and recommendation processes. We thank them for their endless efforts and generosity.
    At this point in the process, the senior class has gained valuable insight and information. To the underclassmen, listen to the following words submitted by anonymous seniors. They are words of wisdom from experience. They include advice not only about preparing for the college application season but also about your high school experience and reasons to get involved. Listen carefully and don’t get caught by surprise when you are facing the end of your high school career, staring down the tunnel of college applications.
    “Start early! Fill out the common app during the summer between your junior and senior year.”
    ”Make sure you have been looking into and visiting colleges throughout all of your high school years. Don’t wait until you are a senior.”
    ”Keep your grades up and get involved, but don’t forget to still have fun.”
    “Take the ACT and the SAT at the beginning of your junior year. Find which one you like and score better on, and then continue to study for that test only. Almost all colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT.”
    “Don’t join clubs and such just to put on your resume; get involved in extracurricular activities because you really enjoy them and see a reason for them. Being passionate and truly involved is more important that having an extensive list of clubs you have been a member of. You passion will shine through in your application and essays.”
    In conclusion, the college application process is just that — a process. When seniors were asked to describe this process in a single word, their responses included stressful, tedious, important, overwhelming, and intense. When asked about how many hours they spent on the college application, answers ranged from “0 so far” to “200” to “too many.” The college application process is an important rite of passage, a definitive portion of a senior’s life; this decision will potentially dictate their future career path. Underclassmen, do not take this lightly and begin thinking and preparing now. Below, Foxcroft Academy graduates offer some more advice.
    Lucy McDermott, Class of 2012. Lucy attends the University of Vermont and currently prepares to spend a semester studying abroad in Florence.
    “As for advice I would tell students to not only focus on a school’s academic rating, but to also look at the extracurriculars the school offers as well. College isn’t just about academics — it’s about finding your passion and pursuing it. At UVM I’ve been lucky enough to find a club that allows me to grow not only academically but personally as well. The education you get outside the classroom in college is just as important as the one you get inside the classroom. Base your decision not on academics but on your passion.”
    John You, Class of 2013. John currently travels globally working to build his résumé by collaborating with different companies and artists in both advertising and fashion.
    “If you have any interest in things you’ve loved to do and enjoy doing, now is the time to explore it. Don’t take time off right after you graduate from high school. Take college and the advantages it gives you to become the most amazing version of yourself. College is a great opportunity to build lifetime relationships, so make the most of it. And last but not least, don’t be proud of the college you attend, make the college be proud to have you. I’ve seen many who fail and give-up to go for that extra mile, and most of them regret that they didn’t contribute more to their college while they had the chance.
    “While all the pressure you’ll get from college will make you feel overwhelmed, lonely, and frustrated from time to time, keep in mind that college is also a major time of transition. Just know that you are not the only one who is experiencing that — everyone is in the same boat as you. In fact, all the things you experience and experiences that you get from college are the ones that you will probably value the most and will become most valuable to you later on.
    “Finally, maintain a college budget for yourself, and less is more when it comes to packing for college.”
    Alex Stevens, Class 2013. Alex is enrolled at RPI and is majoring in chemical engineering.
    “When it comes to applying to college, my advice to any high school student would be to apply to as many colleges as you can. It might cost a little bit extra or take a little more work to send applications to as many schools as you want, but with more applications sent out it gives you a chance to apply to more reach schools and still have a few less selective schools as a safety net. Then you’ll be sure that you’re making the best choice in the end and all the stress will be worth it.”
    Angie Chen, Class of 2013. Angie speaks about her experiences applying as an international student; she is currently enrolled at UC-Irvine and is majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior.
    “I can say that applying for colleges was the busiest period in my life. In order to be outstanding among all the applicants, it’s very important to have not only great scores on SAT, TOEFL, and AP tests, but also to have great application essays and personal statements. Therefore, on top of the plenty of time I’ve spent on tests, I had to spend time going over my essays again and again as well rewriting and editing at the library with Mrs. Wentworth. Since English is my second language, all these requirements became the weakest parts of mine. I must put more efforts on extracurricular activities, such as track, math team, and film media. So during those three months, basically I spent all my time on the process of college applications.
    “I got accepted into University of California, Irvine. I like everything about it except for the quarter system. We have 10 weeks per quarter and most courses have two midterms, one final and weekly quizzes. Thus, we usually don’t have time to review. I struggled for the first year, but now I am getting used to this fast-paced system.”
    Hunter Law, Class of 2014. Hunter speaks about alternative options to the traditional college experience. He currently resides in Georgia, where he works to hone his artistic skills.
    “I chose to take an alternative avenue rather than college. Although post-secondary school is a very efficient and effective way to land a job or career, I was becoming bored with typical mainstream education and thus decided to try my luck at tattooing. I have just recently started my apprenticeship and enjoy every learning minute, but the true winnings come from my travels, new experiences and the people I meet every day. If I had to give someone one piece of advice from my personal experience, it would be, ‘Don’t be afraid to do something different; don’t be scared to live.’”