As college decisions come to a close at the beginning of April, seniors have now officially survived college application season! With these pivotal experiences, they have grown to find out a lot from applications, essay writing, and financial aid. On the other hand, juniors are in the thick of preparing for college, often finding themselves needing input on their personal statement, school “fit”, activity list, scholarships, and senior year in general. With these opposite perspectives, ACHONA asked five juniors their questions on college applications and in return their senior sister will answer their question based off experiences and learning curves.

1). Junior Asada Mclaughin and Senior Ali Ibanez

1. How did you organize your applications?
   1. I organized my applications by keeping a list on my notes app on my computer with different stats, like submitted, still need to do supplementals, and then as the weeks go on and I heard back, I would update them with denied, deferred, or accepted, then started adding dates for when certain scholarships are due.
2. Where do you see the most money coming from?
   1. The schools that gave me the most money were the bigger SEC schools, ole miss and Alabama have so many niche scholarships due to their tuition, they will constantly email you with scholarship offers as well as your counselors will help you find so many scholarships. *extra note: many times private Catholic and especially Jesuit institutions will give aid to students, some schools even offer lesser known full scholarship options like Boston College and the University of Virginia. 

2). Junior Katelyn Papy and Senior Cate Cathey

1. What activities are the best to write down?
   1. There is no one activity that is “better” than another. Colleges are more focused on the impact that you made in the activities that you listed, than the activities themselves. Leadership positions, long commitments, and big achievements all stand out. Quality over quantity is a good motto to follow when creating your resume. 
2. After you get accepted, how much do they watch your grades/activities?
   1. Most schools will request your first semester grades, but otherwise, they will not ask you about them. If you suddenly start failing half of your classes, or randomly quit all of your activities, they will definitely take note, but do not stress over it too much.

3). Junior Virginia Dreisbach and Senior Genevieve Carrere

1. What are the best tips for answering questions about why you would fit it with the college?
   1. Make sure when you are answering “why (college)” you are talking about how you and your attributes will make a difference in their school. I really focus on the schools’ mottos and or sayings – like Loyola’s is “for the greater glory of God” and I talked about how religion has played a role in my life and how what I have learned from that can add to their campus. DO not just resay the basics of what you have already given them – tell them what they want to hear! 
2. How do you make sure your essay is really good and passionate?
   1. Personally I really enjoyed writing my essay and I think that is why it ended up being really successful. You need to be able to find joy in what you are writing and feel proud of yourself, not grasping for small bits and pieces of stories to make you sound good. It is better to show who you are and how you have grown instead of your accomplishments – that is what the activities section is for. No matter what you write as long as you feel good about it and love it it will show the true you!

4). Junior Hunter Allen and Senior Adriana Lyons

1.  When’s the best time to start your college applications?
   1. I think it is the best time to start your applications early rather than later. For example, finish your essay at the beginning of senior year or preferably over the summer because you will need to take the time to write all of your supplementals during the first semester. As well, start brainstorming your most important activities to talk about during the summer as well therefore you can have the best answered prepared. 
2. How much do scores really matter?
   1. I honestly think scores matter a lot as in you should be trying your best to study for the ACT or SAT as it is SO important. It is also noted that you should take into consideration your GPA as that is probably the most heavily weighted. Yet, you want to make sure that you look incredibly well-rounded in your application as if you have high scores it can be nothing without outside work such as service, leadership positions, jobs, etc.

5).  Junior Mieko Greenfield and Senior Claire Salazar

1. How did you figure out the right thing to write about in your college essay?
   1. In my college essay I wrote about a topic/event that happened to me that I felt was really important and taught me a life lesson. What I did to decide was I made a list of things/topics that I feel have shaped who I am today and decided to focus on a specific circumstance where I feel I had a change in views/new perspective and I wrote how it has changed me moving forward and how it has shaped my future plans.
2. Is there anything that’s not worth saying in your essay or not worth putting in for your applications?
   1. 1. I would maintain a positive attitude throughout the essay because you want to show colleges you will be an active participant on campus. I would not mention not getting along with other people and not portraying other people in a bad light as you want to show colleges you are accepting of all different types of people and are able to deal with conflict and differences of opinions.

To be honest, each student is different and no college application process is the same and everyone should follow what is right for them with school fit, how many schools to apply for, and how to write your essays. This process can be very long, defeating, and overwhelming, but older students, counselors, teachers, and friends can always support this process through offering advice and giving experiences. Please remember to take deep breaths, balance the stress with activities that are fun, and that no college decision defines your capabilities and accomplishments thus far.