Every year on August 1st, one of the most challenging, confusing, and exciting chapters of a senior’s life begins: college applications.
From that day until November 1st, seniors who are applying early juggle personal statements, transcript releases, and letters of recommendation alongside their day-to-day lives in school. Needless to say, the first few months of senior year can be stressful and confusing.
While most colleges applications have final application deadlines in late December or early January, many seniors take advantage of the opportunity to submit their applications early in order to receive their decisions before the holidays.
Izzy Mulkearns is one of those NASH seniors who is ahead of the game.
“I’ve already applied to seven places,” she said. “I haven’t heard back from any places, but I finished all of my applications on August 4th.”
Mulkearns had a clear strategy heading into college application season.
“I wanted to apply because of rolling admissions, and because my GPA isn’t super duper high, so I wanted to get my applications in as early as possible,” she said.
NASH senior Carson Corona is on the same level.
“I have already applied to eight schools,” he said. “I don’t think the process needs to be dragged on any longer than it already is. Acceptance rates seem to be higher now, and I’ve toured four out of eight places that I applied to.”
Corona is correct that early applications generally yield higher acceptance rates at many colleges and universities. His decision to tour some of the schools on his list is another strategy that is commonly advisable.
But for students who cannot or do not wish to travel in advance of application deadlines, the NASH School Counseling Department is offering meetings with college representatives during lunches during the first few months of the school year.
Jordan Smithyman, a NASH senior, has taken advantage of those lunchtime meetings.
“I have been attending some of the college visits, and I thought that the presentation about the SRAR was extremely helpful,” Smithyman said. “I have applied to four places so far and just recently found out that I was accepted into Slippery Rock.”
Other seniors are taking a more patient approach.
“So far, I’ve only completely submitted to Kent State,” senior Jack Kantz said. “I wanted to apply to Kent as early as possible because I’ve been familiar with it for a while and love the campus. I haven’t gotten any answers yet, though.”
Senior Gabbie Ibrahim is working on her transcript and personal information first.
“I still have yet to submit any of the applications,” Ibrahim said. “I plan on getting four of my applications done before November 1st. I haven’t fully figured out the transcript release process yet. It’s really confusing, and I’m kind of lost.”
For senior Akshay Nayak, a distaste for the Common App has motivated him to apply elsewhere.
“Pitt and Penn state are where I’ve applied so far because I heard you have a better chance of acceptance if you apply during early applications,” Nayak said. “I haven’t done Ohio State yet because I’m not a big fan of the Common App, and I think it takes longer than a normal website application. However, I finished putting my information in the Common App, but still have yet to pay the application fee.”
