Surviving College Applications

College applications. Some seniors will attest that it is the scariest thing they have faced since those monsters they thought were hiding in their closets when they were seven.

Though seemingly impossible, surviving the stress that inevitably comes with completing college applications can be done. Here is some advice for seniors for maintaining sanity during this arduous time.

List of Colleges

To start off, make a list of the schools that you plan on applying to. Many schools who use the common application also require a supplement. By knowing what schools need what, you can be sure to know how many documents you need to fill out and how many essays you need to write.

Director of College Counseling Ms. Connolly suggested, “Make two lists: one that is more balanced that lists deadlines and requirements and an other that is more personal to you. Decide which of these colleges is a reach, safety, and target school.”

Completed Calendar

Because it is so easy to become completely flustered during the college application process, it is helpful to stay organized. Make a checklist and keep a calendar with all the important dates on it. Include things like a plan on when rough and final drafts of essays should be completed so that you are not caught a week before applications are due with all your essays not done.

Having a list of everything that needs to be done laid out and written down allows you to know exactly what and when things need to be done, which can take away some of the stress of the process. Once you have everything set out and planned, get started!

“Having it all in your head is more stressful,” said Ms. Connolly. “Find something that works for you, whether its spreadsheet or a laid out calendar, and have it written out.”

Essays

If you are the kind of person that has a lot of difficulty sitting down in front of a computer and starting an essay, then find a way that works with you. One idea is to find a nice walking trail and go for a hike. Don’t bring any distractions—a friend, an iPod, etc. The movement of your legs may motivate your brain to get moving too, and essay ideas may just start flowing.

Once you get some ideas, sit down and just start writing. Ms. Connolly said, “One way is to start in the middle of your essay, and then find a way to circle back to the top. It is also helpful to have a list of the activities you do with you to refer as something to reference to. With those activities, ask yourself as a whole why you chose to do them.”

It does not matter at first about the grammar or the sentence structure. Expand on your ideas so that you get content in your essay, and go back later to perfect it.

Teacher Recommendations

Get a head start on which teachers you want to write a recommendation letter for you. Each college has certain parameters in terms of whom they accept recommendations from. Colleges prefer that you choose a teacher who taught you either sophomore or junior year and that you do not pick two teachers who taught a class in the same field. For example, you should not pick two English teachers or two math teachers. Make sure you pick teachers who know you well and will be able to give a good idea to the colleges about the kind of person you are.

Standardized Tests

If you have not done so already, make sure you have taken all the necessary standardized tests, like the SAT, ACT and SAT subject tests. Different colleges have different requirements—some want the SAT and two subject tests, some take either the SAT and two subject tests or the ACT and some will take the SAT or ACT but require you to take two subject tests regardless of which test you take.

Even though the UC system no longer requires subject tests, many private schools still want them. It is a good idea to check the websites of the colleges you plan on applying to just to make sure you have taken the tests you need in order to apply.

Throughout this whole process, make sure you tend to your needs. Do not lose sleep worrying about college applications. Designate a certain amount of time each week to relax—go for a walk, take a yoga class, see a movie with friends. While this time can be very stressful and require a lot of your time, you will not be able to put forth your greatest work if you get burnt out.

Take time to break away from the stress of the whole process. After all, it’s senior year! Do not get overcome with college applications that you do not enjoy your last year of high school.

 

 

Tips for College Applications

College: It’s what we’ve been preparing for since we entered the halls of Presentation High School, if not earlier. Four years of studying, research papers and projects have all lead up to the moment of graduation, after which we can finally move on to college.

If only it were that easy. Unfortunately, before you can actually attend college, you have to apply to said college. And, as most seniors know, there is nothing more stressful than the application process…especially as the deadlines start to creep up on you.

However, you’re not alone. The Voice has asked seniors who applied early or finished their applications early to share their tips and warnings to help maximize your chances of success.

The most common tip is, of course, to start the application process early. “I would advise students to begin writing essays in the summer. At the very least, students should have some idea about what topic they want to write about. As the fall semester rolls around, it is often difficult to juggle school, sports, and essays. Although stressful, the process is exciting. If students stay on top of deadlines, then the process is less stressful and more rewarding,” said Natalie Audelo.

Although it may seem difficult, it is not impossible to finish your applications with plenty of time to spare.

“I began formulating ideas for essay topics during the summer; also, I opened my Common App account the day it was made available, and I finished my entire application along with my supplements by the beginning of October. I’ve already heard from five colleges because I took action so early on. It feels awesome to have somewhere to go,” said Meredith Hinz.

The ‘activities’ portion of an application can be tricky, so be sure to fill it accurately and with meaningful activities.

“If I could, I would have started my activities during freshman year. It’s more important to continue on with activities you enjoy than to pad your resume. Be sure to list out all your activities ahead of time before putting them in the application; you don’t want to forget or leave out anything,” said Amanda Ison.

Another tip is to write your essays as soon as inspiration strikes, and keep a cool head when working on the essay portion.

“I’m glad that I wrote the essay about an event when it was still hyped up in my mind. It added emotion and excitement that made me proud of my essay. However, I would change how I let some questions freak me out because I wasted a bunch of time worried about the ‘describe your world and your place in it’ UC prompt. Just the thought of it makes me cringe,” said Erica Henderson.

When doing your applications, also keep in mind the value of others’ inputs.

“If I could have done anything differently, I would have gotten critiques on my essays. Even if your counselor can’t see you right away, nab a friend and let them review. Sometimes they can suggest things to perk up your essay, or offer a viewpoint you never had,” said Alexis Kuhlmann.

Additionally, make sure you prepare yourself well for standardized testing, and get it done ahead of time so you can retake the test if needed.

“I wish I studied a lot more for the SAT because it takes a long time for scores to come in and I am not happy with my scores, but it’s pretty much too late to sign up and take the SAT for a THIRD time,” said Katie Donohoe.

And, of course, listen to your parents.

Said Donohoe, “I learned that your parents do know what they’re talking about when it comes to college apps, so as annoying as they seem, they know what’s best for you. If they suggest a school that maybe you’ve never heard of or don’t really like, still look into it. I learned that I love the school that my mom suggested, even though I used to hate it, because it’s perfect for me. So listen to your parents because they know what’s best for you and know what they’re talking about.”

Senior Sports Scholarships

A continuation of our article from last month highlighting seniors who have been recruited by and have committed to colleges.

Stephanie Sorg

Recruited for: soccer

Committed to: Santa Clara University

Sports Career: Has been playing since age seven.

Achievements: CCS finals freshman year, First Team All-WCAL sophomore and junior years     and First Team All-Country junior year.

“The part I most enjoy about playing soccer is competing against the other top teams in the country and meeting new people.”

Briana Fujii

 Recruited for: softball

Committed to: Villanova University

Sport Career: Began playing at age five and competitively at age 10.

Achievements: Honorable mention in the San Jose Mercury News junior year.

“Softball has been my passion my entire life.  Being able to play Division 1 softball for the next four years is something I always dreamed of, and now it has finally come true.  Just being on the field and playing brings me joy.”

Jennifer Randazzo

Recruited for: soccer

Committed to: UC Irvine

Achievements: Named Freshman of the Year in the San Jose Mercury News, honorable mention at CCS in 2007, honorable mention at WCAL in 2009, first place team at WCAL junior in 2010.

“I just love playing soccer and I love being a part of a team where we can challenge each other to be the best we can be. Also, you make a lot of new friends along the way.”

So long, SAT IIs

Beginning with the class of 2012, the UC schools will no longer require students to submit Subject Test scores for admission. Overall, this is a good change in SAT requirements and will ultimately benefit future classes applying to any of the nine UC campuses.

The Los Angeles Times states the reason that the UCs are dropping the SAT II requirement is because it will make more students eligible for a review of their applications. UC President Mark G. Yudof said, “I believe it increases both fairness in our system and opportunity for our students, and it does so while maintaining the very high standards that are the bedrock of our institution.”

The SAT IIs are subject tests that assess students in English, math, history, foreign language, and science. All of the tests are multiple-choice and take one hour. Students can choose to take one, two, or three different SAT Subject Tests.

While it is unfair that pre-2012 students were subject to this requirement while current students are not, it is good that future classes will have lower amounts of stress.

Many students who know they are going to attend a UC now won’t have to take the SAT subject tests, which means one less thing to do prior to applying for colleges. Applying to college is stressful enough, so eliminating a test–particularly when students already have to deal with the SAT reasoning test, ACTs and sometimes APs–is a good idea.

More girls from Presentation may choose UC schools for college because there is now less emphasis on the SAT subject tests. Also, many of them will now be more willing, and able, to apply to the UCs as well as many other state and private schools. They will, in fact, probably apply to more UCs as opposed to other colleges because they won’t be required to take additional SAT II tests.

Although the UC system does not ‘require’ the SAT IIs anymore for the application, they still do ‘recommend’ that students do take those tests and send their scores while applying to the UC schools. If they are not required to send their scores, many students may choose to not take the SAT subject tests, which cost $20 per test.

Future classes may still have to take the SAT IIs if applying to certain private colleges. Only about 100 colleges and universities out of approximately 3,000 across the country used subject tests in their admissions processes. These 100 tend to be the most selective schools with the most competitive applicant pools, according to the Compass Education Group. A lot of these schools do just recommend or ‘consider’ the student to submit their subject test scores, but schools such as Yale, Brown, Vassar, Harvard and many others require two SAT subject test scores.

Students may be able to apply to a greater number of schools after this change. This is especially true considering that the number of colleges requiring the SAT II scores for their application is greatly decreasing each year.

Our California UC school system has some of the best colleges in the country. Because they are no longer requiring the SAT IIs, more students will pick colleges to apply to mainly from the UC system. Also, by not requiring additional test scores, we’re able to focus on the one SAT reasoning test that is required by almost all colleges in the application. Starting with the Class of 2012, we will see just how this change in application requirements will affect all future classes and procedures.

 

Helmet to Helmet

The tension was thick; all eyes were on the players. One side of the stands radiated red and yellow while the other stand emitted cardinal and white. It was certain that all Bay Area college football fans would be seen in only one location on October 9; Stanford’s football stadium.

The newly revived rivalry between Stanford and the University of Southern California (USC) has left devoted fans thirsty for a good game. The competition between USC and Stanford began in 1905, the early years of football on the west coast. The two major private universities encountered a natural rivalry. This lasted until the early 2000s, when Stanford’s team began performing poorly. After this plummet occurred, the competition ended. It was then rebooted in 2007, when Jim Harbaugh, the current Stanford football coach, was hired. He resuscitated the diminished team, which defeated USC in a three game match-up.

USC fans were anxiously anticipating how the USC Trojans would play this season. After the abrupt departure of head coach Pete Carroll, the team was left in the hands of a new coach, Lane Kiffin.  The Trojans were also at a disadvantage from the loss of their leading offensive lineman, Seantrel Henderson. There were high hopes for the new team and for Kiffin, especially because losing was not an option.

Stanford also suffered a loss this season. Toby Gerhart, the team’s star running back, graduated in 2010. Stepfan Taylor, a sophomore, was predicted to take Gerhart’s spot, but Taylor has big shoes to fill.

The game was surely one to remember and caught the attention of many California football fans. If you’re interested in attending a local future PAC 10 game, tickets are available at www.gostanford.com/tickets or http://www.calbears.com/tickets/10_fb_tix_main.html . The prices range from $25 to $45, but sell out quickly. Many college football games are shown on television on channel ABC or ESPN-GP.

Who’s Off to Where to Break a Sweat?

Krista

Sport: Softball

“I’m excited to meet lots of new people and continue playing the sport. It’ll be fun to start playing for a college team.”

Clare

Sport: Crew

“It’ll be fun to row for my college team!”

Emma

Sport: Soccer

“I am most looking forward to the challenge I will find in college soccer and the chance to make an impact on the team.”

Tade

Sport: Volleyball

“I’m just excited about the new experience with new coaches and playing at a higher level.”

Kaity

Sport: Crew

“I am really excited to compete at the next level, to be able to enter into a program that has been doing really well is really amazing!”

Cloey

Sport: Field Hockey

“I have always loved to play sports and it will be exciting to see what intercollegiate sports are like. I cannot wait to meet my teammates and start training! I really love playing field hockey, so I am glad that I will be able to continue doing what I love at a college that I love!”

Alyssa

Sport: Field Hockey

“I’m excited to keep in shape and be at the next level of competition. I’m excited to meet new people and travel. Travel—that’s a big one. And meet new people from new schools and sports teams.”

College Acceptances

It’s that time of year again. Seniors are checking mailboxes frantically, clicking on portals to check application updates between classes and generally succumbing to the madness that accompanies college acceptances. As responses pour in, it’s important to take a step back and take a deep breath. Read on to find out some tips for dealing with responses of all kinds, from rejections to acceptances.

Rejection
So, you’ve been waiting to attend Harvard since kindergarten, with your room as covered in paraphernalia as Rory Gilmore’s. The letter comes. “We regret to inform you…” is typewritten on the page, signifying that you are not among the seven percent of applicants who were accepted to the university.

Whether you’ve been rejected from an Ivy League, a UC or a state school, rejection can be difficult to face. However, there are a few considerations to think about. First, remember the enormous amount of competition to get into college. This year is extremely impacted, making the process more challenging than ever before. You have already taken the initiative to gain a college education, and you will still have one. Next, try not to take the rejection personally. The college is not pronouncing you a deficient human being; they simply do not have room to admit every student, despite outstanding qualifications from many. They may have had a higher number of applicants for a certain major or activity. Also consider that you will attend the college you are meant to attend. Acceptance to an academically rigorous college that does not fit your skill level will only result in frustration and disappointment.

Despite these practical considerations, you may feel down-in-the-dumps for a few days or weeks. Take some time to recover without going overboard; do not down an entire gallon of chocolate ice cream, but punch some pillows or write an angry letter to the college (that you won’t actually send) if necessary. Talk to some friends who also received rejections to remind yourself that you’re not alone.

In extraordinary circumstances, appealing the college’s decision may be an option. At Presentation, the college counselors have a strict policy about appeals: you must commit to going to the college if accepted on appeal. This is because of the large amount of work and time necessary for the appeals process. If you are willing to appeal, you must be absolutely sure that you will attend the college.

So, what constitutes eligibility to appeal? You may appeal a college decision only if extraordinary circumstances were not included in your original application. For example, if a family member had a terminal illness that transferred the care of the family to you and thus lowered your grades, college would be interested in the information. If these circumstances were not mentioned in the original application, an appeal would be appropriate. Perhaps the grades filled in on the application were entered incorrectly, or a major activity was not included. Simply wanting to get into a college is not a suitable case for an appeal. If you are serious about appealing to the college, first commit to another college that has guaranteed you admission. You can withdraw your commitment if the appeal is granted. Then, make sure to follow the steps for the particular school very carefully, and meet with your college counselor for more detailed information.

Rejection is an integral part of the human experience. Take a deep breath, look at the other doors opened invitingly and soldier on.

Wait-Listed
This year, the UC campuses are employing wait lists for the first time because of the large number of qualified applicants they do not have room for. Depending on how attached you feel to the college, you can decide either to keep your name on the wait list or withdraw it. Wait lists vary by college. Some have wait lists of thousands that give a very small chance of admission, while others have short wait lists that have larger chances of admission. If you would like to remain on the wait list, you must respond to the college’s offer to confirm. Like the appeals process, be sure to commit to another college that has guaranteed your admission in case the wait list college does not work out.

Accepted
Congratulations! You are going to college! A university has decided to welcome you on campus for four years of opportunity and adventure. Once you have all of your acceptance and rejection letters, it is time for decisions. Follow this process in order to make the transition smoothly.

First, take some time to celebrate. Go out to dinner with your family, enjoy some frozen yogurt with your friends or buy sweatshirts of each college you gained acceptance to. Walk around with a smile plastered to your collegiate visage for a while.

Review your financial aid awards. If money is an issue for your family (college is an expensive commodity), look realistically at the colleges you have applied to and whether they have offered you financial aid. If you simply cannot afford a school, it may come off of your list.

Visit each college, if you have not already. Take a tour of the campus, and attend classes with a current student if necessary. Explore the surrounding area to gain a greater sense of the community. Attend a sports game, stay the night with someone you know and have a meal on campus. Immerse yourself in the culture. After each visit, write down your immediate impressions while they are clear in your mind. Is this a place you can imagine yourself living for four years?

Prioritize. Begin to rank your colleges from first choice to last choice. If you cannot decide between two, make a pro and con list. Review how you felt when visiting both of them. If you have decided on a major, consider which college has a stronger program and internship opportunities for your career of interest. When you feel certain, make your decision!

As soon as your decision is made, make sure to withdraw your other applications. Other students who really want to attend those colleges are on wait lists, waiting for students to withdraw their names. Give someone else the satisfaction of an acceptance. Next, accept your offer of admission from your chosen college and submit your Statement of Intent to Register by May 1. Apply for housing as soon as possible, since it operates on a first come, first serve basis. Send in your deposit and accept your financial aid award. If your college provides the opportunity to apply for further scholarships, apply for them as soon as possible. In April, more information will be sent out regarding placement examinations for the colleges in order to find out which level math or English class you will enter. Mark freshman orientation on your calendar.

Finally, make sure that you remember to keep focus on your current schoolwork. The second-semester senioritis can be quite alluring, especially when combined with spring fever. However, colleges have the power to withdraw your admission offer if your grades slip significantly. Plus, an A means that you won’t have to take the class final! Enjoy your last few months of high school, and embrace the college you have chosen. It’s been a long road, and your reward is waiting.

Operation: College Art Supplements

Stanford wants students to write an essay describing themselves for their roommates, while NYU is asking this year for applicants to write about a famous New Yorker they’d like to spend the day with. Students can often spend weeks perfecting a perfect response for the college admission officers to read. It will be, after all, one of the few ways a student can stand out of the thousands of prospective applicants. Every year, however, there are some in the senior class who take on an even more daunting additional task: the art supplement.

The art supplement portion of the college application often requires compositions that involve months of work. The compositions cover a wide range of topics – the visual arts of drawing, painting, photography, and computer graphics as well as the performing arts of music, dance, and theater.

For visual arts, colleges typically require another essay and an art portfolio consisting of at least 10 – 15 pieces of the student’s work. The conditions of the portfolios are as varied as the supplementary essay prompts. Some colleges will give their prospective students free reign, while others have very specific instructions. For example, UCLA requires a self-portrait while the Rhode Island School of Design in the past has asked that all portfolios include a drawing of a bicycle. This year, several Presentation students have become very familiar with the work involved in creating such supplements.

For those who know senior Corinne DiTullio, it comes as no surprise that she has been preparing her art portfolio for four years. The signs were everywhere – the quilt she made for her APUSH project of the events leading up to the Civil War and the dedication she shows collaborating with the Valenzuela Theater to produce the costumes for the school’s productions. For the last seven months, however, she has devoted herself specifically to perfecting her best work for her portfolio.

“My [UCLA] self portrait took over thirty hours,” DiTullio says of her endeavor’s time commitment. “I had a table set up in my room with all my collage pieces and there were some days I would work for eight hours or more on it and stayed up until midnight trying to make progress.”

The time commitment to do the art supplement for the performing arts is just as consuming. To do the music supplement for her colleges, senior Emily Nguyen was required to send in a CD with a professional recording of her work. With piano songs lasting eight minutes each, she practiced for four to six hours a day for a week to make her recording.

“Everyone who submits this supplement is extremely advanced and plays their songs impeccably,” she says as she recalls the experience. “I was so troubled about making it perfect that I had to restart the machine every single time I made a slip or teeny mistake. This meant I spent a lot of time playing and replaying my songs.”

She adds, “You can never procrastinate in music. I definitely put more priority in my college essays, but I regret that I could not completely showcase my abilities.”

The nerve racking demands and the need for perfection also affected DiTullio. Her advice to future seniors considering an artistic future in college?

“My advice would be to start early,” DiTullio says. “I worked over the summer on my portfolio, which really helped me get ahead. If I could change anything, I would have finished even more done in the summer. ”

Nguyen offers further advice for the musical inclined. “If you have an idea of what colleges you want to apply to, research them and see if they accept music supplements,” she says. “Start recording now so you can have plenty of time to perfect your playing. Most importantly, pick pieces you love! If you drudge through a song, the music department heads who will be listening will be able to tell.”

College counselor Mary Connolly says that a dramatic arts portfolio can also give some students an edge in such a competitive admissions environment. While most colleges do not require an audition, it is a way for those interested in a theatrical future to stand out. The National Association for College Admission Counseling knows that many students are unable to easily travel to individual colleges for auditions and so it holds national fairs in exchange. During these one-day events, such as the one held annually in San Francisco in October, prospective students can audition for the attending 120 schools.

While some students say they would much rather draw or play music than write an essay, Mrs. Connolly points to the grueling process of spending time alone for hours on end. As she says, “It’s not like going to art therapy.” Still, despite the extra time and effort above and beyond Pres’ already grueling requirements, these students all say that they hope their work will pay off with an acceptance letter this spring.

[audio:http://www.presentationvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bach031.mp3]
[audio:http://www.presentationvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/brahms1.mp3]

music clips from Emily Nguyen’s music portfolio

Appreciating Affirmative Action

White? Check. Female? Check. Affluent? Check. Harmed by affirmative action? Check.

Around this time each year, seniors at Presentation are applying to college. In the application, we are all forced to decide how we want to define our ethnicity. Many white females, like Pres students, are infuriated with “reverse discrimination” implemented through affirmative action, but I have a problem with this mindset.

On college applications, colleges are required to ask your ethnicity. However, you are not required to answer, as there is a “decline to state” option. If students are so worried about reverse discrimination, then why not omit ethnicity? As a white female, affirmative action tends to disadvantage me; but I do not feel the need to complain about this disadvantage if I can opt out of it.

The purpose of Affirmative action is to admit students who are at a structural disadvantage because of race. Presentation girls, for example, have a structural advantage because they do not have to worry about things like affording test prep classes or books as these materials are readily available to them via the Pres staff or library. In contrast, students that come from low-income neighborhoods are at a structural disadvantage, as they do not benefit from the same luxuries offered to Pres students.

Like all policies before it, affirmative action is not perfect. Being a relatively rich white girl, I understand that I am put at a disadvantage in direct consequence. Yet this small disadvantage doesn’t compare to the challenges faced by students in lower socioeconomic brackets. Affirmative action simply attempts to rectify over 200 years of binding discrimination.

To me, there is no reason to complain about something that you are not being forced to do. So to all those confronted by the wrath of “reverse discrimination,” why not decline to state?

Minority Majority

We hear the term “minority” all over the place with immigration and population discussions and especially with the topic of affirmative action. The official definition from the American Heritage dictionary is “the smaller of two groups forming a whole.” But what does it really mean in our society?

Today this term is generally and loosely used to describe different racial or ethnic groups which are, frankly put, not “white.” Sometimes “economic minority” is also used to refer to the working poor or the unemployed. Historically, the majority of students accepted into colleges are middle- to upper-class whites. Some colleges attempt to counteract this by way of affirmative action, which works to diversify the student body and provide the “minorities,” both ethnic and economic, with a fair playing field.

However minority no longer means “the smaller group.” Whites, especially in California, are now becoming numerical minorities. According to data derived from self-identification questions on census bureau estimates, California is referred to as a “minority-majority state,” meaning its combined minority population exceeds its majority population. Other minority-majority states include Hawaii, Texas, and New Mexico. And New York, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, and Maryland, each with a minority population of about 40 percent, seem to be on their way as well. In fact, NewAmericanMedia.org predicts that Maryland will become the first eastern minority-majority state in the next 18 years.

In the coming years, it is speculated that the term “minority” may become fundamentally obsolete. With the continual rate of immigration, it is possible that most, if not all, states will become “minority-majorities,” making all ethnicities “minorities” since they would be under 50 percent.

So what will colleges do if this prediction proves to be true? There is no set protocol but it leaves questions about the future of affirmative action, and whether or not it will even be in existence.

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