Breya's last interview

Breya is finished! She had a number of universities to choose from, and she made her final decision. Congratulations, University of Michigan, on scoring a great first-year student! And congratulations, Breya, on your graduation and new life as a Wolverine! 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

Have you made a commitment to a college? Where did you choose?

I made a commitment to the University of Michigan with the backup of Ohio State, depending on how much I get in scholarships at the end of the year.

How did you make your final decision? What were the factors you considered, and what was the deciding factor?

The University of Michigan has everything I want in a college. It is out-of-state, has an amazing study abroad program, and I was offered a spot in the Summer Bridge program, so I would have a opportunity to earn more college credits before actually starting college. Out-of-state and affordability were basically my deciding factors.

How does it feel to be finished with college admissions?

It feels nice to be done because it was extremely stressful for me as I don’t really have a support system so I went through a lot of it by myself.

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

I would tell them to make sure they hold themselves accountable, especially if they have no support system. It will make life way easier and make sure that you are on top of everything.

What have you got left in terms of high school? Is there still a lot going on, or do you get to coast and relax a little bit?

Next week, I have my Phlebotomy exam, along with my AP Chem exam and club photos for the yearbook. I would say that I still have a lot to do before I get to relax.

What are your summer plans?

I plan on working this summer and attending the Summer Bridge program for the University of Michigan. I also plan on preparing myself for college, outside of academics. I also want to enjoy my hobbies more.

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

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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.

Breya is still waiting

The great news is that Breya has heard back from half her applications and has several options available to her next year. However, the financial aid offers aren’t all as promising. In the next few weeks she’ll hear from the other half. 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

Have you heard back from any other schools? What's your present situation?

I have heard from one more school since our last Meet the Class post. I heard from Spelman and I got in. So far, I have gotten decisions and acceptances from half of the schools on my list. The only schools I am waiting for now are the big ones.

It seems like you've still got a lot of options left on the table. How does that make you feel? Is that empowering to know there's still a lot of ways this can go? Or does it make you a little anxious? Both? What's your state of mind right now concerning the next six or seven months before you begin college...wherever that will be?

I am quickly learning just how bad COVID messed up things in the college world. While it seems that I have a lot of options, I am not able to afford most of them so far so that is definitely cutting down my list. Having some options is making me feel a little better but I’m nervous that I can’t afford to go anywhere.

I'm curious about all the ways that colleges--especially the ones you applied to--have communicated with you. Has it been mostly email? Do they send texts? Old-fashioned mail? Have you seen them pop up in your social media feeds in a way that makes it clear they're targeting you? How do you prefer to interact with colleges you're interested in?

I have experienced all of the ways you listed above, besides social media, which I feel is a good thing as I’m not really on social media. I’ve also had a few colleges call me. I prefer email because I check it everyday.

Based on the news you've got so far, what would you do if you had to make the decision today? What's your thinking behind that?

If I had to make a decision today, I would probably choose Xavier, due to it being the most affordable school at the moment.

Have you got any Spring Break plans?

I am planning on going on a few campus visits and a road trip.

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 are supposed to have all of the above. In the next two weeks, we are having senior pictures. We are probably going to have graduation the way they did it last year. We had a livestream where it was one person/family in the room at a time. Everyone got to walk the stage and take pictures. I’m looking forward to graduating, leaving, and never coming back.

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.

Breya has finished applications

Breya’s school situation is still in Covid-related chaos, but her college application process is right on track. She’s applied to 10 schools, already been accepted to four (congratulations!), and is expecting financial aid information soon. 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

Last month you were worried that this semester might end up being "like a ton of bricks." How's it going so far at school? And how's your Phlebotomy prep going?

School is still the same right now, but it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. We are supposed to be going back in the end of March. I’m not sure if I am going to go back or not though. My Phlebotomy prep is going great so far. We are learning about the different tubes and tube tops, along with the sizes of needles.

Did you get your 10th application out? Did you throw in any other last-minute changes to your list? Have you heard back from anyone yet?

Yes, I got my last application out. I didn’t change anything else about my list. I heard back from Ohio State and I got in. I have gotten into all of my Early Action schools (Xavier, Hampton, Ohio State, North Carolina A&T). I probably won’t hear from any other schools until later as I applied to them for Regular Decision.

A major topic in college admissions for the past year has been testing and colleges going test optional. Did you submit SAT or ACT scores with any of your applications? Did you have test scores to submit, and if so how do you go about deciding if you'd include them with your application?

Yes, I took the ACT twice and the SAT once. I only sent my test scores to two schools, which are Hampton and Howard. I only sent them because they were required for merit scholarships in the program I applied for. I only sent my highest ACT scores.

How's it going on the financial aid front? Are schools being realistic? Generous? Disappointing? How likely does it seem right now that your top-choice school will also be affordable?

It is going pretty good. I finished my FASFA before I started applying to schools so I should start getting my packets in a few weeks. For many of the schools, I would say between generous and disappointing. I will probably have to do work study or something along those lines wherever I go.

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.

Breya is having a rough time

Breya’s school year has been up and down. This month sounds pretty down. She’s got most her college applications out and is still moving along, but she’s showing some doubt about this school year. 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

How were your holidays? Do you feel rested and ready for the rest of the school year?

My holidays were good. Maybe not the best, but it’s usually the same. I’m not sure. I’m kind of nervous for the rest of the year. And I feel that next semester is going to be like a ton of bricks.

Have you now got all your applications out? DId you change your list at all? Is it still Ohio State, Hampton, Howard, Spelman, North Carolina A&T State, Xavier, Columbia, UChicago, Michigan, and UPenn?

I have 9 out of 10 applications out. I have not changed my list at all.

Have you got any news? I know you already had some acceptances come in. Any more?

No, I haven’t gotten anything else yet. It made me nervous at first but maybe it is a good thing. I don’t know.

Assuming you've sent in all your college applications, reflect on the past five months: do you have any regrets? Have you gained any wisdom you can share? Is it what you expected it to be?

I regret putting too much on my plate. Everyone talks about how senior year is the year where you can relax a little bit after finishing exams and applications but I haven’t been able to just have time for myself. It is not what I expected it would be. I thought that I would have more help or at least have people who cared. I have learned that a little stress can push you a long way, but a lot of stress can make everything not as fun or exciting as it should be. My advice is to make time for yourself and do what makes you happy.

You've reached the point where you no longer add to your college list but start reducing it to the final one. What's your plan? What are your priorities? What's your best-case scenario that will make you the happiest?

Right now, I am thinking about if I can actually afford to go to a certain college and if it feels right for me. I’m not really sure right now of my complete process yet.

What does your spring semester look like? How's your school holding up?

My spring semester looks about the same as my fall semester. I’m still taking the same amount of courses. I’m hoping that it might be a little less stressful than the previous semester. I am currently prepping for my Phlebotomy certification test that is in March.

My school is still pretty much the same. They are still going back and forth with whether or not they want to open back up and how.

Do you have any college-related events coming up, either in person or online?

I am hoping to go on a few more visits before I have to really choose where I want to go. Along with some more videos and things.

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.