Advice on the College Admissions Process
Nicole Manning
As I finish up my senior year in shock that there are only a few more days of my high school career, I have been reflecting on a significant aspect that has defined this year for me and many of my peers. THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. A process that brings out the best and worst of us as we spend four years killing ourselves to outsmart a lottery system and get into our dream schools. I am grateful to say that I got into various top 20 and Ivy League institutions and will be attending Yale University this fall. I wanted to share some insight on my experience through the college admissions process and advice that I have.
Before I get into any of the big stuff that many of you, like myself, spend hours watching YouTube videos about, I have to start with three essential pieces of advice. One, please be kind to yourself. It is easy to get sucked into the idea of not being good enough, or I could have done more to compare to other applicants, but the thing that defined the college admissions experience and pulled me out of that negative headspace was staying true to myself and my passions. Two, feel free to ask for help or avoid constructive criticism. The only way I got through this process was by creating a solid network to give me support and criticism I need to express my authentic self throughout my application. Finally, someone else’s journey is not yours. Do not feel the need to go to an Ivy, Top 20, or any other fancy school because that is what everyone tells you. Do what feels comfortable because at the end of the day, college is a place to network, grow, and learn the possibilities of what you could pursue, and it’s hard to do that in an area that is not right for you.
Okay, now onto the good part; please start early! I know everyone will say this, but these deadlines will indeed sneak up on you, and many times, your writing, especially supplements, becomes a defining factor in your admissions. The simplest thing you can do to start is research colleges. On Common App, you can only apply to 20 schools, but begin by creating a general list to narrow down later.
When I was creating my general list, I categorized my search into my majors of interest, dorm and boarding situation plus off-campus living, campus culture, study abroad, the size of the schools (do you want a small school or a larger one), support services, academic / research opportunities, internship and job access, location, academic and social environment, extracurriculars, and dining options to name a few. As you continue to research and narrow down your choices, it would also be beneficial to ask yourself, what about this school excites me, where does this school fit on a balanced college list (target, reach, likely schools), can this school fit my financial needs, what courses would I need for my prospective major, what are the school’s requirements, and how are classes structured? The research is a lot, but it will all pay off in the end; that is why it is important to start towards the end of your junior year and heavily utilize your summer.
As most schools continue with their test-optional policy, it’s essential to focus on these small details about the schools you are applying to because everyone will have impressive stats. How you portray how you see yourself in the school’s community, both academically and socially, makes a difference. Everyone goes through writer’s block and struggles with their story. However, a good start is how you imagine your next four years could go. This is a good thought process to have because this will coincide with the research you do for a school and help you see if a school is a good fit. It is important to remember that if you are having trouble picturing how your four years could go, it may not be the place you should call home for four years. Another way you can do this is by visiting the school; when I was narrowing down my choices to which school I would attend, visiting the school and placing myself in that environment made all the difference.
The final piece of advice that I can provide for how you can prepare during your freshman, sophomore, and junior years is to find a niche or a passion and figure out how to make it yours. STEM has become a popular major and interest lately, so if you are going down that path, please find a way to make what you plan to do in the STEM field unique and something you are interested in pursuing. This is because when you write about it in your supplemental essays, the lack of passion can become apparent to admissions officers. However, whether you are interested in STEM or the humanities, it’s important to join clubs, look for internships or research positions, or explore other methods outside of school that relate to your interest.
While all of this is valuable information, remember to have fun and enjoy the time you have to make friends and great memories! Here are some resources and organizations to check out that can be a great support system for you throughout the college process:
- Ron Brown Scholars Guided Pathway Support Program: Free College Support Program for African American Students and those of African descent
- Matriculate: Matriculate connects high-achieving, low-income juniors and seniors to highly-trained undergraduate advisors
- Ustrive Online Mentoring: Helping high school students apply to college and navigate financial aid
- Princeton Review: Their college counseling program is very expensive; however, they have amazing newsletters and articles that are helpful
- Collegeboard: Has a college search guide and scholarship search
- Ethan Sawyer aka College Essay Guy: This guy is a genius and his free supplemental and personal statement resources supported me throughout the whole college process. He has example supplements for a majority of schools
- YouTube: Has a lot of great resources, but please do not take every creator’s advice to heart because everyone’s journey is different
- The website of the college you are interested in: It is important to fall down the rabbit hole of a college website because the clubs, resources, professors, and classes that you find you will eventually utilize in your supplemental essays.
Please check out the mcsmgrads2023 instagram page to see the amazing schools our grads are attending in the fall!