Seniors experience the college application process
The process and aftermath of applying to the school of your dreams.
Seniors around the country are in the midst of, possibly, the most stressful time in their high school experience. All of the hours spent on school have led individuals to college applications, in hopes of getting into their dream schools.
Everyone looks for something different in the college they hope to attend. Some want to stay local, while others hope to venture off to other parts of the country or even the world. Between the campus, classes offered, teachers and overall environment, the school has to pass a lot of requirements in order for seniors to consider it as a contender for their new four year home.
“I would say I probably have a top three [for] my dream colleges,” senior Lindsay Foster said. “They are UCLA, USD and Cal Poly SLO. As of right now, I want to major in international business so I looked for schools that have really good business programs. That is something that really appealed to me. Those schools popped out to me and the community is something similar to Carlsbad. I have been on all three of the campuses and my top three schools just really connected with me so I would be really really happy going to any of those schools.”
Once students have found some schools that stand out to them, the next step is to submit the applications and wait to be accepted to the colleges who would like you to be a part of their community just as much as you want to be a part of theirs.
“It was a really big relief to submit them,” Foster said. “I know that it’s not in my hands anymore, like the decision. It’s also kind of nerve wracking, on the other hand, as relieving as it is to know that you have applied to your dream schools, it stands as one of those big milestones towards the next step in my life. I am really excited, though.”
Although there is a lot of excitement surrounded by the topic of going off to college, leaving and actually moving forward to the next part of your life is packed with fears and insecurities of what the future could hold. However, Foster has found a way to deal with the stress of going off to college.
“There are a lot of little fears going into college,” Foster said. “Probably just finding the difference between high school and the next part of my education. Also trying to discover what I want to do with my career is really scary if you look at it on the far side, but what I find that helps out with the stress or worry is taking everything one day at a time. That usually helps a lot.”
The fears going into college may have a long list, but Foster has made sure her goals overshadow any sort of fear there might be. College is a time for self discovery and independence, and Foster has made sure those are some of the things she would like to accomplish by the time she graduates from her university.
“One of my main goals going in would probably be just trying to discover more about myself,” Foster said. “Another goal would be to make more friendships. I am really excited to meet new people and to find a class or subject that I am really interested in and learn stuff that I don’t even know about myself.”
Once the acceptance letter has finally hit your doorstep, a wave of relief can be felt from all of the stress, late nights and studying paying off.
“It was a huge relief to be accepted into any sort of college,” senior Hannah Gelbart said. “The fact that it was one of my tops schools, Baylor, was even more amazing.”
College is always on a high schooler’s mind. The key is to stay focused on what you want to do and to never lose track of any sort of hopes and dreams.
“Something really important to remember is to never lose sight of your goal,” Gelbart said. “If it wasn’t for all the time I put into my school work and extra curriculars, I would have regretted it because I may not have gotten into my top school.”
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