Sedona Over Thanksgiving Break

“What Colleges Want in an Applicant (Everything)” is an informative article in The New York Times targeted at applicants, parents, and those who work in admissions at universities

When I was accepted into the Rappahannock Scholars program in the school year of 2013-2014, I began to think differently and transitioned into a mature young adult. Before entering the program, I had considered the academic qualifications to get into college to be the most important. This program, and the advisor, taught me that colleges look for more than just academic interests. They are also interested in work experiences, leadership opportunities, club memberships, and honors and awards.

Acceptance into an Ivy League University is often considered the pinnacle of educational achievement. Thousands of students from around the country stress and panic, thinking that their future success is based on their acceptance into elite universities. Frank Bruni aims to change those beliefs and give parents and students some peace of mind in: Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: an Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. Bruni explains in his book that, “where we go to college will have infinitely less bearing on our fulfillment in life than so much else: the wisdom with which we choose our romantic partners; our interactions with the communities that we inhabit; our generosity toward the families we inherit and the families that we make.”

Virginia Tech has been the home for both my brothers through their mechanical engineer degree and their transformation into responsible and hardworking young adults. I am the third of my family to attend Virginia Tech and even before I was accepted the campus already felt like a second home to me. I know the campus extremely well due to the many visits made and the rural location is quite calming and therapeutic when overwhelmed with stress. The distance from my home puts my mind at ease due to the fact that I always have an opportunity to return home if any major problems arise at home. The entire environment given to me by attending Virginia Tech allows a tranquil learning experience where I will be able to complete my short term goal of rapidly adapting to college life and focus on pursuing my chosen major.

During this stressful season of college applications, I feel that I have an advantage over my classmates. The majority are terrified, searching desperately for a school for them. I, however, am calm. I have been a Hokie fan for my entire life, and dreamed of attending the university for nearly that long. My family is constantly traveling to Blacksburg to cheer on the football team or to enjoy the local food, and I know that nothing would make my mother prouder than seeing me graduate from her alma mater one day. Even if I had no prior connection to Virginia Tech, I would have eventually decided it was the right place for me. It has a beautiful campus full of innovative and wonderfully diverse students. If someone has an ingenious idea that

I’ve kissed up to teachers with recommendation letters in mind, joined clubs, and entered different school activities only because I thought it would look better on a college application. Now that I’m actually applying for colleges, I have nothing of actual substance to say. When a college essay asks, “Why did you decide to apply here?” I know I shouldn’t write that I need a Plan B in case one of my more selective options doesn’t work out. So I lie. I write what college admissions want to hear. I write about how their college can challenge me and put me into a new social setting in which I can thrive. All I have to give are sweet nothings that only appear semi-sincere from the reader’s perspective. Yet, how am I supposed to write something of substance, when all I’ve been conditioned to think about is how to get into college and never stop to ask why I want to go to college. I’ve already applied to UNL and UNO. I found out earlier this week that I had been accepted with the possibility for a Regent’s scholarship. I should feel some sort of excitement, but all I feel is indifference. I’ve adapted enough to know that being accepted into college with such high honors is an important thing, but I feel as though this decision I’ve made is only the result of what

When people hear the word “college”, many panic inside at the thought. But, when I hear the word “college” I think about Illinois State University. In early July, I attended an Open House at ISU for my very first official college visit. As I stepped onto campus, I couldn’t but help to feel like it was my future home. Many aspects of the tour made me draw nearer to choosing this college after finishing my High School career. Illinois State University seems to fit my personality very well, has an amazing program for what I want to study, and is an outstanding campus for my academic strengths and weaknesses.

Coming to Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in social work has been one of the best things I have done in the year of 2016. I can remember awaiting my acceptance into Virginia Commonwealth University and instantly choosing to attend. For the remainder of my senior year of high school, I couldn’t wait to pack up and leave for VCU. Before I knew it, it was August 20, 2016, move-in day. Aside from leaving my parents and hometown, I was a bit upset about having to quit my job, the anxiety of being a broke college student hit me before I even stepped on campus. On move in day I was a bit anxious and a little nervous to leave my parents but at the same time I was ready to leave and explore something new on my own.

Coming from a small high school and later a small college, I know now more than ever that James Madison University is the school for me. When I received a letter in the mail offering me not only an acceptance letter, but also an abundant scholarship from Elizabethtown College, a small private school, I felt I would be foolish not to accept this generous award. While I have had great experiences and have learned an abundance of knowledge in and outside the classroom during my first semester of college, I now know that to reach my full potential, it’s time to move on to a larger, more diverse campus like JMU. For me, Elizabethtown College was comfortable and reminded me of my hometown. Now I know that to be more successful, I need to step

One of the key components in higher education enrollment management in a public, four-year university is the admissions process. With encouragement from many sources such as friends, family, and college marketing materials, high school juniors and seniors apply and enroll in college by the thousands each year (McDonough, 1994). College choice is greater now than twenty years ago, but finding the right fit for each potential student is harder due to increased college entrance standards and intense competition between institutions. Applicants now are more likely to apply to many more institutions than previous generations, yet still only attend

Prior to our recent move to Oregon, I had become quite comfortable with life in Northern New York and had applied for Empire State College as an important part of my future education. When looking into colleges to continue my education, SUNY Empire State College seemed to shine brighter than the rest. I had initially come across the Military Times Magazine and noticed that SUNY Empire State College had been recognized as “Best for Vets” for the past five years. In speaking and hearing the positive experiences of Soldiers who are current students or alumni, my interest deepened. Ultimately, I enrolled and I hope to continue in advancing my career as a History teacher through studies at SUNY Empire State College.

Applying to colleges at the beginning of my senior year of high school seemed like a walk in the park. That was before I realized how much work it took to apply. With the common application and all the essays, I never thought I would get them all done. In the end, I applied to seven different schools including: Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Hillsdale College, Oakland University, Grand Valley State University, Kalamazoo College, and Hope College. Oddly enough, Hope College was the last school I applied too but the first school I got accepted too. I never thought I would attend a small, Christian school until I walked onto Hope`s campus.

Some may say it’s a cliché to write about the feelings you have when arriving on a college campus for the first time; however, the feeling I got when I stepped foot on the Dickinson College campus is one of the main reasons I decided to apply. Although I visited in June, when there were few students on campus, I still had a feeling of being at home. Through my information session, I was able to grasp an accurate understanding of how Dickinson tries to emanate a family feeling while at college. This is precisely what I’m looking for in a college: a place where I feel I belong and welcomed.

After graduating from high school, I embarked on a 12-month gap year during which I took a NOLS course in New Zealand, completed an Outward Bound program in the Texas desert, lived in Africa for three months and rounded out my year as a camp counselor leading backcountry expeditions at a camp in extreme northern Minnesota. In the spring of my high school senior year, I chose my college like a 17-year-old with a sheltered, suburban view of life. Because of the growth that I achieved during my gap year, I am now applying to the University of Vermont with a different mindset and perspective. When I left for my gap year I was an 18-year-old, however, when I returned I was so much more than 19.

As a kid, few times in the year drew as much excitement as the holidays. The second Thanksgiving passed, every nearby town completely converted into a winter wonderland. The oncoming holidays always has a way of uniting people over the commonalities they have with one another; the importance of family, togetherness, and thankfulness for personal health and opportunities. While I may have been most excited for the material gifts when I was younger, I have come to appreciate the sentimental values of this time of year. Since I am a Junior rounding off his Fall semester, I often reflect on what the future has in store. The thought of post-college life presents itself with stress, uncertainty, even self-doubt. However, being around family and friends during this time provides me with a valuable asset—perspective.