Year after year, thousands of students nationwide take the huge leap from high school to college, bringing them one step closer to independence. As deadlines draw near, most college-bound seniors have their applications well underway. But how do you make yourself stand out amid the pool of applicants, and how do you stay on track with so many factors to consider? Not to worry! Seniors, AHS alumni, and academic counselors alike are full of advice to help you succeed.
Senior Marcel Kelly-Hacala is nearing the end of his application process, and his main advice is to start your application early, especially the Common Application.
“(Start) the second you’re able to,” Kelly-Hacala said. “Even if you don’t get a ton of stuff done it’s still really helpful to have your foot in the door before you get really into the application process.”
This was a recurring theme among interviewees.
Deena Faull, one of the AHS academic counselors recommended starting the personal insight questions for UC applications as early as junior year since they usually stay the same.
Another thing you can get a head start on is your activities list.
“The UCs require you to list any activities or extracurriculars and it’s really hard during senior year… to look back and remember all of the different things that are applicable to your application,” Taylor Nada, an AHS alum, said.
Nada is currently a Freshman at UCLA, and she recommends starting on this list during your Sophomore year or even the end of Freshman year if you intend to apply to any UCs.
Besides starting on the application elements, there are other ways to get prepared.
“Something I wish I’d done more as an underclassman is volunteer,” Kelly-Hacala said.
Volunteer hours can definitely be a strong point for applications. If you aren’t sure where to start, clubs like Interact can help high schoolers find volunteer opportunities within their communities. Faull agreed that volunteering and getting involved are very important.
“UCs, private schools, (and) some out-of-state schools definitely are going to look at not just your grades… (but) how you’ve connected with your community both here at school and in the larger community,” Faull said. “So, definitely getting involved whether it’s clubs on campus, sports, or working… is huge.”
But how do you decide where to apply? Well, there are many factors to consider, so it’s good to start researching as soon as possible.
“For me, it was very location-based,” Nada said. “I’m an actor, so I wanted to be in Los Angeles… but it’s not what I wanted to pursue in school, so I also looked at academics.”
Location, offered majors, and price are some of the biggest considerations, but many people also recommend visiting the schools you want to apply to. By doing this, you can get a feel for the campus and see if it’s somewhere you could see yourself living.
“Visiting is obviously great if you can, but not everyone can do that, so going online [is also good]… a lot of schools have virtual tours,” Faull said.
By following these recommendations, you should be thoroughly prepared by the time your senior year comes around. But the advice doesn’t stop there.
During your senior year, there are a plethora of amazing resources available to guide you through the final stages of the process. In October, for example, there was an application workshop held in the AHS library. All three of the school’s academic counselors were present along with CSU representatives. They helped students troubleshoot, review, and even start their applications. Counselors also met one-on-one with each senior to help them plan.
AHS alum Riley Elison is another freshman at UCLA. He advises finding college counselors to help with the application process.
“This is critically important in producing a unique, well-rounded application that will be captivating to application readers,” Elison said.
He also says to have as many people read over your application as possible before you submit it.
The AHS College and Career Center will be getting a new coordinator, likely within the year, and this will be another source of support for college applicants. After the loss of C&CC coordinator Darcy Robins at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the position is currently accepting applicants. The C&CC will be a great place to get free and valuable insight on your applications once it’s back up and running.
These resources and many more are here for you, so take advantage of them.
“(If) you ask for help or utilize the school resources, it’s not a sign of weakness,” Nada said. “It’s a sign of dedication to what you’re doing.”
These pieces of advice should help guide you through the application process. But possibly the most important advice of all is this: be yourself. It may sound cheesy, but it’s actually very relevant.
“You can try to pander (your application) to the school and that’s not going to benefit you,” Nada said. “If you show the colleges who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you think you can bring to the school, that’s what they’re looking for.”
Wherever you may be in this process, there are resources at your disposal and experienced individuals who are happy to help. No matter what grade you’re in and what your plans are, hopefully, you or someone in your life will find these tips helpful. Good luck on this difficult journey, you’ve got this!
