Julianna's last interview

Julianna still has some AP tests coming up, as well as normal everyday school. But her college application season is completely finished. This may have been the calmest, most successful season I’ve witnessed. Even with Covid. Read her final interview of the year below. Congratulations, Julianna, and thank you!

Meet the Class gets updated each month from September to May. Each installment features an interview about both the facts and the feelings of where the student is in the process.

Interviews may be edited lightly for clarity and grammar. Names may be changed to protect privacy. 

Julianna attends a public high school in Kentucky

I assume your plans haven't changed, and you're still on track for the University of Georgia next year?

Yes, I am a bulldog through and through! In the last few weeks, I received decisions from my final three schools. I was accepted to Northwestern and Boston University, and I was waitlisted at Syracuse. BU even offered me a full tuition scholarship! But I have no regrets about my decision to attend UGA, and this is absolutely the best fit for me.

What did you do over Spring Break? Did you go on the trip with your aunt?

Over spring break, I went to Red River Gorge with some friends. It’s a state park in Kentucky, and one of my favorite places. We had a few days of hiking and adventure!

What's the rest of your school year look like? Are you still busy? Has senioritis taken over?

I received my first vaccine dose last week, so soon things will start to look more normal. We will be having graduation outside in person, so I’m looking forward to that. I have AP tests to worry about, but all in all it should be a pretty relaxed rest of the year. Senioritis has definitely taken over, but I’m trying to just chill and recharge before I have to be back in the game in college!

How does it feel to be finished with the college application process?

It’s relieving to be done. I never expected to end up where I am, but I wouldn’t want to be going anywhere else in the fall. I feel like everything is falling into place.

If a current high school junior asked you for a single piece of advice, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to put their authentic self into everything, and really prioritize their own opinions. For too long, I was preoccupied with the notion that some schools don’t compare to others. But after really listening to my heart, I know I’m going where I need to be- even if it’s not where I would have expected.

What do you wish I had asked you that I didn't? What else would you like to share? (Personal note to a future journalist: the "what should have I asked that I didn't" question is one that I learned from my journalist mother. I heard her interview many people through the years, and she almost always ended with something like that. I once heard her ask someone "what is it you're not supposed to tell me that you're dying to tell me?" and they talked another 30 minutes.)

I love the anecdote you mentioned regarding this question. My mother was a journalist who graduated from Northwestern in 1991. She passed away in 2013, and I always dreamed about going to NU. For that reason, it was hard to be accepted and turn it down. But at the end of the day, I know she is proud and happy for me. I won’t be following her footsteps in terms of schools, but she’ll be guiding me with her example every step of the way on my own journey to become a journalist.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, here are three easy things you can do:

1. Share it on your social media feeds so your friends and colleagues can see it too.

2. Check out interviews with other Meet the Class seniors.

3. Ask a question in the comments section.

Apply with Sanity doesn’t have ads or annoying pop-ups. It doesn’t share user data, sell user data, or even track personal data. It doesn’t do anything to “monetize” you. You’re nothing but a reader to me, and that means everything to me.

Photo by Angela Elisabeth.

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Breya is getting close

High school students—especially current juniors—take note. When we think about the stress of college applications, we often focus on the fall. All those forms, all those essays! And then, we tell ourselves, we get acceptances and make our choice. Much simpler! But Breya’s experience is like a lot of people’s. She’s got acceptances from half her applications. Congratulations! But financial aid offers aren’t all in yet, and some are going to be appealed. For many, the time from March to June is actually much more difficult. Read the full interview below.

Meet the Class gets updated each month from September to May. Each installment features an interview about both the facts and the feelings of where the student is in the process.

Interviews may be edited lightly for clarity and grammar. Names may be changed to protect privacy. 

Breya attends a public high school in Ohio

You said last month that you were hoping to go on some campus visits for Spring Break. Were you able to do that? Where all did you go?

I was able to see one campus so far, which happened to be Xavier University. I’m still on Spring Break, so I am hoping to visit Howard before it is over.

Have you heard back from all your colleges now? What news did you get in the past month?

I am supposed to get my final college decision in 3 days. But so far, I have gotten into more than half of my colleges. This month, I have gotten into the University of Michigan.

Have you made a decision yet? If so, can you explain your thinking? If not, can you explain what questions you're pondering and what factors you're considering? Are you attempting to get any offers changed, either in terms of acceptance or financial aid packages?

I have not made a decision yet due to still waiting for decisions and financial aid letters. I am trying to get financial aid packages changed for two colleges. Ohio State marked me as out-of-state so I am in the process of proving my residency. Also, I got no financial aid from Spelman so I am trying to work that out as well.

You're almost to the end of applications and decisions! How do you feel?

I feel excited and very anxious at the same time. I feel that it is a good thing but I am also thinking about what happens next.

What's something you feel good about right now, either related to school or not?

Something I feel good about right now is that I got a scholarship through school and I also got a new laptop for school.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, here are three easy things you can do:

1. Share it on your social media feeds so your friends and colleagues can see it too.

2. Check out interviews with other Meet the Class seniors.

3. Ask a question in the comments section.

Apply with Sanity doesn’t have ads or annoying pop-ups. It doesn’t share user data, sell user data, or even track personal data. It doesn’t do anything to “monetize” you. You’re nothing but a reader to me, and that means everything to me.

Photo by Angela Elisabeth.

Apply with Sanity is a registered trademark of Apply with Sanity, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tyra's last interview

Of the dozen high school seniors I’ve got to know through Meet the Class, Tyra has been the first in several ways. She’s the first to live in a rural area. The first to go to community college. The first to choose her college early on in the process and stick with it. Now that her plans are settled for next year, this is the last check-in with her. Thanks, Tyra, for letting us all follow along and get a sense of the variety of colleges and college students out there!

Meet the Class gets updated each month from September to May. Each installment features an interview about both the facts and the feelings of where the student is in the process.

Interviews may be edited lightly for clarity and grammar. Names may be changed to protect privacy. 

Tyra attends a public high school in Iowa

I assume your plans haven't changed, and you're still on track for Iowa Lakes next year to study to become a vet tech?

My plans have only changed in the sense that I am now going to live off campus as my boyfriend plans to move down there with me.

Do you have any Spring Break plans?

My only plans over break was to work and spend time with my family as my days of living in my hometown are coming to an end.

What kind of "normal" spring activities will you have? Graduation? Prom? What are you most looking forward to in your final months of high school?

We have both graduation and prom coming up. I am extremelg excited for both events and they should, to my understanding, run somewhat normally dispote COVID. I am personally looking forward to prom with my boyfriend followed by graduation and the feeling of finally being done.

How does it feel to be finished with the college application process?

It is so freeing not having to worry about which college to chose. Now I am focused on finding an apartment and getting the necessary items for said apartment.

If a current high school junior asked you for a single piece of advice, what would you tell them?

Don't waste your final days. There is not many left and they will completely fly by. It sounds cheesy, but cherish every moment before it's gone.

Anything else to share that I didn't think about?

I just want to thank you for this experience!

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, here are three easy things you can do:

1. Share it on your social media feeds so your friends and colleagues can see it too.

2. Check out interviews with other Meet the Class seniors.

3. Ask a question in the comments section.

Apply with Sanity doesn’t have ads or annoying pop-ups. It doesn’t share user data, sell user data, or even track personal data. It doesn’t do anything to “monetize” you. You’re nothing but a reader to me, and that means everything to me.

Photo by Angela Elisabeth.

Apply with Sanity is a registered trademark of Apply with Sanity, LLC. All rights reserved.