DHS Graduating Seniors Lend Advice for the College Process
NEIRAD enilno edition
Now that the class of 2011 has wrapped up the college process, DHS juniors are beginning the same grueling task. The NEIRAD staff interviewed a number of seniors who were eager to offer advice about the topic.
Many juniors have begun to take the SAT and ACT. People feel that these scores can make or break a college’s decision. What many juniors forget is that test scores are only a small part of the package. Senior Caroline Kapustynski said “I don’t think they hurt my application. I wanted to schools to see everything about me so I sent all of my schools both my ACT and SAT scores.” Kapustynski submitted both her SAT and ACT scores because she felt that her math ACTs were much better than her SAT while her verbal and writing sections of the SAT were much stronger than on the ACT.
The fall is a very busy time for seniors, especially in-season athletes. Early decision applications are usually due in November and early action in December. For most athletes, this requires staying up late during the season to put finishing touches on applications. Kapustynski, a senior field hockey player suggests filling out applications in August. Kapustysnki said “I filled out as many as I was in the mood for. I started with the ones that I knew exactly what to write and saved the more difficult supplements for later.” Kapuskynski also believes that getting applications done early prevents a lot of unnecessary stress during the school year.
Senior Jake Hertz said that “starting early” is one of the best ways to reduce unnecessary stress. Getting your applications in early is also a way to show a college that you are really interested. Hertz said “The hardest part is waiting to hear back.”
Senior Gabby Acquaviva said, “I was surprised to learn that nobody would be babysitting me to get all my focus on college.” Acquaviva found it difficult to motivate herself to finish applications because it was her responsibility to get them done. She felt like she had all the time in the world to get them done and for the first time in her life, nobody was on her back telling her that they needed to be submitted. Acquaviva said that she had expected the school guidance department and her parents to bother her until she got everything done. She thought that the school and her parents were useful resources to help her decide what schools to apply to, but were not helpful beyond coming up with a list of schools. Acquaviva said that she doesn’t think that getting a late start on her applications affected her. She did not submit any of her applications early and just barely made the February regular decision deadline, “As long as you pay attention to what is going on, you won’t fail.” Acquaviva believes that as long as you know and meet your deadlines that you will get in somewhere. She thinks that it is more important to show interest in the school rather than to meet the first application deadline. She also advises seniors to meet with admissions when they visit the school in the fall.
The process can be stressful but is also rewarding. Senior Kim Terepka’s words of advice to juniors are “Don’t stress about it. It will all come together in the end.”
