Listen to Your Elders: College App Advice

Naomi Herthel

To my fellow members of the class of 2025, it’s official: we are now rising seniors. Although most of us would prefer to live in denial, there’s no magic genie to alter this reality. We are drifting down a lazy river of time, inevitably landing at senior year. 

If you remember my Junioritis article back in the January issue, you’ll recall that I compared January of junior year to the feeling of swimming in the ocean as a massive wave crests overhead, destined to crash upon us in mere moments. We felt impending doom as we looked ahead toward a semester crowded with AP exams, auditions, SATs and ACTs and other high-pressure commitments to fulfill. So let’s pause and celebrate: we’ve completed junior year, supposedly the hardest year of high school! And as we look now to this summer, when many of us will begin crafting college applications, I figured we might as well start this conversation early. And who better to get advice from than the OCSA Class of 2024?! 

First, start earlier than you would expect. 

Nearly every interviewee began with this advice in one way or another. Haley Kleinman (IA ‘24) advised researching schools and creating a college list early in the summer because “that part is time-consuming.” Corinne Thomas (IA ‘24) recommended drafting personal essays earlier than you might think because “the more you write them, the more tired you’re going to grow of them,” and an early start will allow you to take breaks later on, when Senioritis-induced burnout is peaking. They also both mentioned that it took longer than expected to complete “annoying data entry, such as how many hours/weeks/years you’ve been doing your activities, so be sure to not leave that behind.” 

Second, recycle essays. 

Jesse Ie (MT ‘24) realized throughout her college application process that making essays hyper-specific to each school was not the most efficient route. By reusing essays for different applications, you’ll not only save time but also get to continuously show off your best work. Coco Kuntz (CMD ‘24) said she reused essays for roughly 16 different applications. 

Third, make peace with the unknown. 

As put by Savannah Tweedt (PM ‘24), “Whatever decisions you make are not permanent, and it’s normal to be confused about what your future may hold. You just have to move forward with what you believe will be the best choice for you in the moment. It’s okay if it changes in the future!” 

Lastly, apply as yourself, not who you think you should be. 

Brady Moore (CMD ‘24) articulated that the admissions officers don’t just see you as numbers. They see personality, and you should try to bring that out as much as possible, especially in interviews if you get them. Moore said, “You have to be authentic. You don’t want to get accepted as someone you’re not.” 

As stressful as this all may sound, remember there was once a time when we each thought we wouldn’t survive junior year. And look where we are now! Just as we got through these past few months, we will get through college applications. And when it gets rough, take comfort in knowing we’re all in it together.