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:

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Juniors, should you take the next SAT or ACT?

There’s an ACT test coming up on February 6, and the regular registration deadline is tomorrow, January 15. There’s an SAT on March 13th, with a registration deadline February 12th. Should current juniors consider taking either of these tests?

Nope.

The main reason I'm not recommending anyone take the ACT in February or SAT in March is simply the Covid situation. With the numbers as high as they are, I just don't feel comfortable encouraging anyone to go into a group setting in the near future. Last fall there was a lot of chaos surrounding test administration, with many test sites closing at the last minute, so I don't have full confidence that registering for the spring exams will even get you into the spring exams. I would look ahead to the June or August exams instead of spring. That will still give you plenty of time to re-take if you want.

Another reason to put off testing is the number of universities that are test optional. A growing number of colleges were already test optional. And then last year a whole lot more went test optional, some for one year and some for multiple years. But the ones that only gave a one-year break are likely to do it again (at least one already has), because the pandemic is even worse right now than it was last June. By the time you are applying this fall, It may be that the majority—or even all—of the schools you’re considering won’t even be requiring test scores. So risking an unhealthy situation for an unnecessary test just doesn’t seem like a great idea.

Let’s also look at reasons why you might want to take the test soon:

You want to take the test once, early, to get it out of the way and focus on other things in the summer and fall. I love the thinking behind this. I don’t, however, think it’s all that likely to happen. In my experience, almost nobody is ever happy with their test scores. Even if you take the test and get what you think is a good score, there will still be some tempting reason to take it again and aim for a higher score. Your scores will be just under the mid-range of a school, and you want to get them up just a little bit more. Your scores will be just under the top 25% of a school, and you want to get them up just a little bit more. Your score will have a 9 in it—either a 29 composite for the ACT or a combined SAT score that ends with 90—and you want to get it up just a little bit more. That just a little bit more is going to be hard to resist, and so the “once and early” strategy often fails. But if you think you will actually do it this way, go for it…in June. Not right now.

You want to get a baseline score to help you plan for test prep and retakes. Again, this is completely rational and practical. You probably have an idea of where you want your test scores to be, so now you need to know where you are. I get that. But again, you can put off your first exam until June and still be able to execute that plan. You can also take practice tests to get a good idea of your starting point, and they are free and can be done from the safety of your own home.

You want to take the exam as often as possible for superscoring purposes. This is something I hear less often. Most the people I’ve worked with who took the exam a bunch of times thought they’d take the test once, maybe twice. Then they just ended up taking it three or more times because they kept chasing that just a little bit more. Some students, though, absolutely do decide early on that they’ll take the exam four or five time to get the highest possible score. While I don’t endorse this approach, I do understand it. And again, if this is your plan you can take the SAT five times between June and December. Give it time.

But there’s another way to think about testing, an approach I do endorse: don’t take them at all. Not this spring, not this summer, not this fall. Decide right now that you’re only going to apply to test-optional or test-blind schools. There are lots of reasons to dislike the tests, and Fairtest is good at explaining them. Here’s the thing that I always come back to, though: every other part of your college application has value far beyond college applications. Doing well in your high school classes, being involved in your community, strengthening your writing skills, practicing interviews, taking action to pursue your interests—all these are valuable on their own. But a college-entrance exam has no value once you enter college. It’s extremely limited in usefulness. So I encourage you to skip that part. It’s not worth it.

Does that mean you’re eliminating choices based solely on their testing policy? Yes. But there are thousands of colleges and universities. You’ll only apply to maybe a dozen, and only attend one. Elimination is what the process is all about. But isn’t testing policy a pretty arbitrary reason to eliminate choices? Yes. But so are other reasons. You want to stay within 100 miles of home? Arbitrary. You want to avoid places that are hot, or avoid places that are cold? Arbitrary. You want to go to a college with a “good reputation?” Arbitrary. It’s fine to use an arbitrary reason to pass on a college. But could you be letting go of a college that would otherwise be a really great fit? Absolutely. But remember that wherever you go to college, you will also be letting go of colleges that are also a really good fit.

If you’re not ready to make that leap, I understand. There may be a college you really have your heart set on, and they require you to take the SAT or ACT. That’s fine, I’m not judging you. But I still believe it’s time we all—students, parents, counselors, consultants, teachers, all of us—start thinking of the SAT and/or ACT as a special opt-in circumstance, not the default that only a certain subset of students opt out of. You can go to a really great college and have a really great career and a good life without ever taking one of those exams. Think about how nice that can be.

Be safe. Be careful.

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. Read these related posts: Should you submit your test scores to a test-optional college? and It seriously looks like SAT/ACT testing is going away.

3. Ask a question—or share other resources—in the comments section.

Apply with Sanity doesn’t have ads or annoying pop-ups. It’s not trying to sell you anything. 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.

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.

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.