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:

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

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Photo by Angela Elisabeth.

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Julianna is waiting

On one hand, there’s nothing left to do to get college applications out. And that’s nice. But on the other hand, there’s, um, nothing to do but wait. And that’s not always so easy. Julianna, like a lot of high school seniors, is in the waiting period. Read about that and more 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. 

Julianna attends a public high school in Kentucky

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

My holidays were great! I was able to spend time with family while still being safe. I traveled to Oregon to visit my best friend, who goes to the University of Oregon, so I’m still jet lagged since my return, but it was a nice break and I’m looking forward to finishing my final semester of high school.

Have you now got all your applications out? DId you change your list at all? Is it still UGA, Indiana, DePaul, BU, American, Syracuse, Northwestern, Mizzou, and Ohio?

All of my applications have officially been submitted and my list is the same as it has been. I’m very happy with how things have turned out so far.

Have you got any news? I know you already had an acceptance come in. Any more?

In terms of news, I did find out that I was accepted to the honors program at the University of Georgia and I received a merit scholarship, both of which are relatively uncommon for out of state students. I'm over the moon.

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?

The past five months haven't been nearly as stressful as I thought they would be. Finding intrinsic motivation has been difficult at times, but for the most part I think it's really been, more than anything, exciting. Getting to think about the future in a real, tangible way, with college acceptances in your hand instead of in your dreams, definitely changes the game. I feel like maybe I could have worked harder, or made different decisions about what to write about. In the long term, however, I am confident that I will end up where I need to be. I really am proud of myself for setting myself up for success in that regard. Too many students apply to places they don't want to go, and I've never understood. There is money to be found in lots of places if you know where to look.

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'm waiting. I've never been one for patience, so it's a bit nerve-wracking. My best case scenario would be receiving the University of Georgia's Foundation Fellowship, or at least becoming a finalist and receiving the Bernard Ramsey scholarship. These scholarships are nearly full rides, and UGA is my top choice. Right now, even with the merit money I was given, it isn't affordable. I'll hear if I am a finalist by the end of January, so I'm trying to distract myself and think positively while I wait. I also have some fantastic schools that I'm still waiting to hear from, and those may be game changers depending on whether or not I receive financial aid. It all depends! I'm just excited to be along for the ride. At this point, I strongly feel like I've done all I can do and I'm okay with that.

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

My school has started back in person, and this time I truly believe we are here to stay. I'm just going to spend this final semester solidifying my friendships, staying safe, and savoring every last minute of childhood. Graduation seems so far away until suddenly, you're ordering a cap and gown. You're wondering how it's already over. 12 years suddenly feels like 12 seconds. Despite the nostalgia I'm feeling, and the added grief I have for my lost prom, football games, and other events, I'm more ready than ever to move on and begin the next chapter.

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

I do not have any college related events coming up. I have done as much research as I could possibly do at this point, so I'm just trying to distract myself from the waiting!

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 is having mixed emotions

Tyra is beginning her winding down of high school. There are still months to go, but she’s already looking ahead to college and beginning to relax. Not all seniors are at this point so early in the year, but many will get to this point 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. 

Tyra attends a public high school in Iowa

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

The holidays were fine, and I am starting to get the mixed emotions about senior year. Like I am extremely happy to graduate but at the same time I am sad to leave everything that I know behind. As for rested, today was my first day back and I am completely shot and beyond tired.

You're still on track for the vet tech program? Can you tell me the school? What--other than finish high school--do you need to do to be prepared for the program? Are there any other requirements or classes? Anything for you to do this spring or summer for that?

I am excited to attend Iowa Lakes Community College for their veterinary technician program. I am on track and will take four total college-level classes that will get me credits for my degree this year already. So then once I am into my first term I will only have vet tech classes, which I think will be a huge load off of my back. I need to save some money to go dorm room shopping, that’s for sure. I have barely anything bought yet and need to make a list.

Assuming you're set on that being your school, 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 would not say I have any regrets, I am just happy to be a senior. I have been making friends with underclassmen who I generally do not like and can say I have learned a thing or two about their generation and how it’s much different than mine.

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

As for this semester, I have an extremely light load and plan to use my time in order to just relax and soak up the rest of my high school career. My school is holding up well I would say, there are not too many new cases and the Covid vaccine just made its way into our small town.

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.