Illustration by Eloni Bickman
Applying to college is an important responsibility. In the last three years of one’s high school career, college remains in the back of many students’ minds. It isn’t until the end of junior year when students might start to mark their calendars for application deadlines, entrance exam dates (for the SAT and ACT), college tours, and everything else in between.
Now that the deadlines for the University of California (UC) and California State Universities (CSU) have passed, many seniors applying to college acquired more experience to reflect and learn upon as they complete the rest of their applications. Now, many seniors can provide future college applicants with valuable insight and advice to help them prepare.
Typically, it’s not unusual for students to first know how the application process works only from what they have heard from their peers. When students start their applications, it can be important to do individualized research. Every student has a different application process.
“When I was applying to the schools, I didn’t know that there were different applications, like for the CSUs and the UCs. I also didn’t know anything about the Common App,” recalled Kaya Fields, a senior from Berkeley International High School (BIHS). “I was completely in the dark,” she said.
Furthermore, some of the more basic skills needed to successfully complete applications can play an important part in this process.
“I wish I knew how crucial time management is ,” said Amira Harara, a senior in Academic Choice (AC). “Not only do you have to allot time to write the first drafts of all your essays, but you also need time to incorporate others’ feedback while still maintaining your original voice.”
Another key component to completing those applications is utilizing the resources that are available.
“I talked to counselors, college essay readers, and teachers to read over my essays and ensure they were awesome,” Harara said. “Overall, the support of others was incredibly essential to my application process.”
Luckily for Berkeley High students, the College and Career Center (CCC) is the one-stop shop that supports students in navigating their options post-high school. The CCC is an important resource for all students when it comes to help with academics, especially seniors and juniors who are seeking application help.
“The CCC was most helpful for me because it offered me a space to work and a place to get all my questions answered,” said Academy of Medicine and Public Service (AMPS) senior Kendra Bowman.
Moreover, it remains critical to consider affordability when applying to college. No matter what socioeconomic status, honestly confronting your financial securities can help students stay informed about different financial aid, fees, and scholarship opportunities that are available.
How much can a student’s family afford? Does a student qualify to waive their application fees or entrance exam fees? What scholarships are available? These are some of the many important questions to consider during this time.
Remember, the struggle to afford college applications and other senior year costs is much more common than one might think. “Figuring out how to pay for everything has been challenging because senior year is already expensive. We have senior portraits, prom … add application fees on top of this and the thought of having to pay for college,” explained Bowman. “You don’t know if you can get all the fee waivers and scholarships that you need, and you have to worry if your finances will prohibit you from going to school,” she said.
In the end, the application process becomes much more than simply pressing submit. It becomes an introduction to the possible opportunities post-high school, of adulthood and figuring out life.
“The application process has definitely changed my perspective on college,” expressed Fields. She continued, “College is a huge change and I’m not really sure I’m ready, but I guess I’m in it for the long run, since I submitted those college apps.”
While students can easily feel overwhelmed, do not feel intimidated by the process! In the end, one’s motivation to continue learning and discover themselves rest at the core of who they will become. “Whether you go to a state school, private Ivy League, or community college, your success in life is determined by the hard work you put in only,” explained Harara.
She continued, “I am not any less of a person if I don’t get into a good college because, in the end, I’ll make whatever college I attend a good college.