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.

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

Julianna is finished!

The dream of many high school seniors: get accepted to your top-choice university, with a full scholarship. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes it does. Read all of Julianna’s exciting news 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

Let's go over your list to begin:

University of Georgia. Top choice. Accepted with scholarship.
Indiana University
DePaul University. Accepted with scholarship
Boston University
American University
Syracuse University
Northwestern University
University of Missouri
Ohio University

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

I heard back from Ohio University and received a large scholarship there, as well as admission to their Honors Tutorial College program. I am still waiting to hear back from Northwestern, Boston University, and Syracuse.

How did your interview for the UGA Foundation Fellowship go? When do you expect to hear if you get it? Are you still committed to Georgia?

My interview was fantastic, and my dad and I enjoyed a great (albeit virtual) weekend together getting introduced to the program. I have already heard back, and I was chosen as a Foundation Fellow! I'm thrilled and following notification of the news, officially committed to attend the University of Georgia. We have submitted the enrollment deposit and everything! I couldn't be more excited and I know this is the absolute perfect choice for me. I will be paying zero over the next four years. Not only does the Foundation Fellowship grant me full tuition and full room-and-board/fees, but it also provides almost $30,000 in travel stipends for me to spend lots of time abroad during my undergraduate career. All first year Fellows go on a Maymester trip to Oxford University to study, so that's the closest thing I have to look forward to. The rest of the travel is at my discretion to use. I couldn't be happier. Plus, UGA has already announced that fall 2021 will be fully in person with a total return to normal operations. I can't wait to begin college and move past this pandemic!

How are you feeling? Are there any lingering Covid problems?

I'm feeling great, I am completely recovered from COVID. I am technically an employee of my high school because I am paid for my work live-streaming sports games. This means I may be able to receive a vaccine soon! My dad is scheduled to receive his first dose later this month, and I'm so relieved.

Do you have any spring break plans?

No spring break plans as of yet! My aunt has suggested a girls trip to Georgia, though! I might take her up on it!

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?

Honestly, I'm feeling senioritis more than ever. There is no sparkle to senior year without the things like prom, senior Washington D.C. trip, and other key things I'll be missing out on. I just want to move forward. The school has released tentative plans for graduation to be held outside. It still won't be the same, but better than nothing I guess.

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.

Julianna has decided!

Julianna has some news: Boo Covid! Yay Bulldogs! 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. 

Julianna attends a public high school in Kentucky

Last month you were very much in waiting mode. Has there been any news?

There has been lots of news since I last answered these question! I actually found out that I am a finalist for the University of Georgia’s Foundation Fellowship, which is their full ride scholarship program. There are 48 finalists, and after an interview weekend at the end of this month, 30 will be awarded the full scholarship. However, all finalists are automatically awarded Ramsey Scholarships, which are also extremely generous. With all of this in mind, and with UGA being my first choice anyway, I have committed! Go Dawgs!

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? I ask this question of almost everyone, but I know that you were hoping to specifically hear from UGA by the end of January.

I haven’t heard much about financial aid from my schools so far, and I’m still waiting on admissions decisions from Boston University, Northwestern, and Syracuse. Those are set to come in March. Although I’ve already committed, I’m looking forward to hearing back. I expect more financial aid information will be sent my way in the months to come.

How's school going? Are you still on campus and still relatively safe?

School has been good! We are fully in person. In the last week of January, I actually was diagnosed with COVID-19 and I’ve been at home. I’m going back to school this week though, so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again and I’m feeling much better.

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?

I am lucky enough to have been able to take the ACT multiple times, and each time I had a score in the high thirties. For me, submitting scores was a no brainer. I know that many students aren’t as fortunate to have that option though, and I believe that test optional admissions is the future, one step below eradicating standardized tests completely.

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.

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.