As the school year’s final quarter begins, juniors are starting to think about their class schedules for next year, what extracurriculars they’ll be participating in, and most importantly, what they want to do after high school. Because we seniors are pretty much done with the college application process, we’d like to share some tidbits of information and tips to help ease and aid in the application process and how to set yourself up for an amazing senior year.
Because you’re in the middle of class scheduling for next year, make sure to keep up a certain level of academic rigor. However, this doesn’t mean choosing to take all APs and honors classes just because you know it’ll look good on your application. Although that may be true, colleges are looking for students who can maintain a rigorous class schedule and good grades, while also keeping up solid extracurriculars and making time for volunteering, leadership, and service. Make sure to keep a healthy balance between work and play.
Megan Martinez ‘24 gives her perspective on school-life balance: “I took six APs this year and have kept up that rigor since freshman year. In terms of finding time to get everything done, it was honestly kind of tough. There would be days when I had a lot to do; I always would try to know my week ahead of time and balance things out this way. Sometimes I would just find spare moments to work on projects or finish up some work. Overall, it was finding time to be present for everything and making sure I put 100% into everything I did.” Megan’s hard work certainly paid off because of her acceptance and commitment to Harvard University.
Speaking of extracurriculars, something that stands out the most in a college application is your involvement. If you have a pretty strong extracurricular list that you’ve accumulated over your high school years, keep it up during your senior year. Also, don’t be afraid to pick up a new hobby, sport, club, service opportunity, or job.
Siena Lopez ‘24 shares her extracurricular and how it has helped her, “Being involved with Trinitas has enlightened my creativity and strengthened my ability to work with others in a collaborative environment. More specifically, being a part of Trinitas’ Thespian Troupe #4566 has allowed me to give back to the community through many service projects and product drives. The skills I have gained through this program are truly unparalleled, and I think that contributes heavily to a strong college application profile.”
Most universities and colleges are holistic application reviewers, meaning they look at what kind of student and person you are all together. Remember, you don’t get into schools based on grades alone.
This summer, you’ll want to supplement your days by doing something productive to your college application process. With all the downtime you’ll have, I strongly recommend creating a list of all the colleges you plan on applying to in the fall. Make sure to categorize these schools into four groups: “super safety” schools (schools that you’re guaranteed to get into); “safety” schools (schools you will get into); “target” schools (schools you are pretty likely to get into); and “reach” schools (ones that you have a chance to get into). It’s good to have a healthy balance of all four of these on your college application roster.
If you already know what schools you are interested in and will indeed be applying to in the fall, schedule a guided tour or sign up for a camp there. Being able to get a feel for a campus is a great way to find out whether it would be a good fit for you.
Brooke Skipton ‘24 recently visited one of her top schools: “I was soooo down to go to Catholic University of America, but when I visited, it put a lot of things into perspective. It was a gorgeous campus and the environment was amazing, but being there made me realize that I don’t really want to go that far away from home. I highly recommend that students visit their choice colleges before they commit because it definitely makes a difference. Just because you imagine yourself somewhere doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. After all, you don’t want to realize you’ve made a mistake too late.”
Lastly, here are some random words of wisdom I wished I’d known before beginning this whole college process:
- Don’t be afraid to show your personality in your applications. Colleges don’t want a robotic, run-of-the-mill student at their school; show the colleges you apply to that you are worth accepting, because you are!
- Don’t allow yourself to become burnt out during the application process. Take breaks when needed. Do not spend hours on end trying to perfect a specific sentence in your personal statement. Trust me, the tiny details don’t matter as much as you think they do.
- Don’t get caught up in the numbers: a lower college acceptance rate does not equal a better college. When researching, do not let yourself think that you will be more revered or do better at a “Top 20” school. Instead, simplify your research to include schools that have good programs for your major, are in a nice location, and have ample opportunities on and off campus.
- Although this is something I realized just recently in hindsight, it is so important to comprehend this straight out of the gate: rejection is redirection! Do not get discouraged if you get rejected or waitlisted from your dream school. I know it is hard to fathom—believe me, it took me some time to come to terms with it—but you will end up where you should end up. God has a special path for all of us; even if it isn’t the path that you created and intended, it’s the right one.
With that, I hope that these recommendations have helped you create a plan when it comes to college applications. If you ever have any burning questions about college applications, do not hesitate to ask our counselors in the counseling department. Lastly, feel free to ask a senior; there are plenty of nuggets of advice we could lend you. Good luck, juniors!
