Hey peeps!
It's been a little while, haha... How many times have I said that again? XD
And with this giant gap in time, it's needless to say that quite a bit's happened. I'd like to believe that I've changed a little bit as well.
A little story as to why I decided to come back, if only for today...
Well, perhaps I should start by saying that I've graduated! On July 19, 2018, I officially graduated from my high school. I walked onto the stage, careful not to trip, eyes wide, smiling as I received my diploma. I shook a few hands and watched as my friends all officially graduated, the cumulation of most of our lives' efforts all leading to this one moment. No, I didn't cry, but yes, I threw my graduation cap up!
Afterward, I went to a sushi place with my family and my friend (along with her family). Once we were fulfilled by a fantastical dinner, we rushed home. There was something called "Project Graduation" that I needed to get to by 9, and it was already a little late. Project Graduation is basically a parting field trip where the graduating class goes to an arcade for free for the duration of the night. And got damn, was it fun. I got a temporary tattoo of a rose on my collarbone (I'm edgy like that), won a giant blue plushie llama by working with my friends (the llama has no gender and is named Dia), and lastly, demonstrated my prowess at pool. Okay, I wasn't THAT good, but I wasn't BAD, ya know? :)
Side note: typing this up feels a little funky right now. So reminiscent, haha.
Now, with the completion of my senior year in HS, I must look forward to the future! I am proud to announce that in the fall, I will be attending college in Cornell University's College of Engineering. I hope to be a mechanical engineer to help create sustainable solutions in the future, but who knows! There are an infinite amount of possibilities within my grasp at this time--I just need to reach out and hang on tight.
So, for the past few days, I've just been thinking about college. On July 9, course pre-enrollment started, and this will continue until July 17. I think I have my schedule set (and frick frack am I so excited for this madness). With course pre-enrollment essentially completed, I began thinking about what I'll bring to college; I even created a Google Doc that I shared with my roommates! I have two epic roommates (so we're living in a triple). I haven't met them yet, but I can't wait to see them in person on Move-In Day, woot!
Anywho, with all this going on, I began to think about my past, and somehow, this little blog I started years and years ago at the urging of my friend popped into my brain. And with that, I decided to write up a post: this post. I think I'll still update this blog in the future. Maybe I'll keep this as a sort of a journal so that I can stay sane in college.
Since I'm still here, I might as well talk about SOMETHING besides what happened to me. Today, I will be talking about... THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. As well as how to get into college, haha.
Now, never assume that you'll automatically get into a college OR that you'll immediately have your application thrown out by a college. That's not a healthy mindset, and no matter the college, it's crucial that you pour your heart and soul into your app and put 200% effort into each.
Now, in terms of the actual application process, like numerous other people say, I recommend starting early. I used Common App for all of my applications, but different schools may have different sites to use. On top of writing the Common App essay, there are also supplemental essays. To be perfectly honest, as a procrastinator, I left most of the work until a week before my applications were due. I applied to nine colleges and lemme tell you: IT WAS NOT FUN WRITING, EDITING, AND REVISING THOSE SUPPLEMENTS WITHIN A WEEK. Please, PLEASE do not pull a me. This is one of the most important things in your life, and it is IMPERATIVE that you take it uber seriously. Because of my bad habits, I didn't apply to any schools early, so for all of those competitive colleges, I lost an opportunity at an acceptance or deferral. I remember that I actually finished my Common App essay two days before the first app deadline: 11:59:59 on January 1, 2018. Some supplements I began the day that it was due; I even submitted one app at 11:59:48. In short, I was a mess. SO PLEASE START EARLY.
Now, for the actual content of my application.
Up until my junior year, I thought that if you got good grades, you would automatically be accepted into an equally good college. While it is important to take challenging courses and maintain excellent grades and standardized test scores, I feel like colleges are looking for so much more than that. There are millions of high-achieving students, but what makes you worthy of the college you're applying to? What makes you stand out? For one, I think extracurriculars are crucial. They display your passions and your dedication. Furthermore, take advantage of those supplements! They exist not only for you to demonstrate your generic interest in the college, but to showcase WHO YOU ARE. I feel like colleges these days aren't looking for numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper; they're looking for people who will lead the future, for passionate people who will make a difference. Don't lie for this section; admissions officers can see right through you. Just present who you truly are.
Personally, for my extracurriculars, I put down all of my activities: track and field, art, violin, and an environmental club. I think there was another section where I listed my volunteering efforts; there, I wrote down how I went on an environmental trip to the Tibetan Plateau, volunteered as a part of Girl Up in a baseball stadium, helped out in Camp Jotoni, along with other efforts. For all of my essays, I took a consistent tree-hugger stance. I addressed programs and research conducted specifically by that college and avoided generic statements. I tied my activities to why I wanted to attend that specific college.
Actually, I just realized... In order to find your perfect fit for the future, you select a handful of colleges that you are interested in, significantly narrowing your search. Then, when you apply and get your acceptances/rejections, this search is narrowed that much more. Not only will you believe that you are a fit for the college, the college is a fit for you.
Damn.
ANYWHO.
To rising seniors, good luck. To peeps in my grade, good luck.
To those who still check in on this blog, thank you so much. I can't make promises for future posts, but as I said earlier, I will try!
Until next time!
It's been a little while, haha... How many times have I said that again? XD
And with this giant gap in time, it's needless to say that quite a bit's happened. I'd like to believe that I've changed a little bit as well.
A little story as to why I decided to come back, if only for today...
Well, perhaps I should start by saying that I've graduated! On July 19, 2018, I officially graduated from my high school. I walked onto the stage, careful not to trip, eyes wide, smiling as I received my diploma. I shook a few hands and watched as my friends all officially graduated, the cumulation of most of our lives' efforts all leading to this one moment. No, I didn't cry, but yes, I threw my graduation cap up!
Afterward, I went to a sushi place with my family and my friend (along with her family). Once we were fulfilled by a fantastical dinner, we rushed home. There was something called "Project Graduation" that I needed to get to by 9, and it was already a little late. Project Graduation is basically a parting field trip where the graduating class goes to an arcade for free for the duration of the night. And got damn, was it fun. I got a temporary tattoo of a rose on my collarbone (I'm edgy like that), won a giant blue plushie llama by working with my friends (the llama has no gender and is named Dia), and lastly, demonstrated my prowess at pool. Okay, I wasn't THAT good, but I wasn't BAD, ya know? :)
Side note: typing this up feels a little funky right now. So reminiscent, haha.
Now, with the completion of my senior year in HS, I must look forward to the future! I am proud to announce that in the fall, I will be attending college in Cornell University's College of Engineering. I hope to be a mechanical engineer to help create sustainable solutions in the future, but who knows! There are an infinite amount of possibilities within my grasp at this time--I just need to reach out and hang on tight.
So, for the past few days, I've just been thinking about college. On July 9, course pre-enrollment started, and this will continue until July 17. I think I have my schedule set (and frick frack am I so excited for this madness). With course pre-enrollment essentially completed, I began thinking about what I'll bring to college; I even created a Google Doc that I shared with my roommates! I have two epic roommates (so we're living in a triple). I haven't met them yet, but I can't wait to see them in person on Move-In Day, woot!
Anywho, with all this going on, I began to think about my past, and somehow, this little blog I started years and years ago at the urging of my friend popped into my brain. And with that, I decided to write up a post: this post. I think I'll still update this blog in the future. Maybe I'll keep this as a sort of a journal so that I can stay sane in college.
Since I'm still here, I might as well talk about SOMETHING besides what happened to me. Today, I will be talking about... THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. As well as how to get into college, haha.
Now, never assume that you'll automatically get into a college OR that you'll immediately have your application thrown out by a college. That's not a healthy mindset, and no matter the college, it's crucial that you pour your heart and soul into your app and put 200% effort into each.
Now, in terms of the actual application process, like numerous other people say, I recommend starting early. I used Common App for all of my applications, but different schools may have different sites to use. On top of writing the Common App essay, there are also supplemental essays. To be perfectly honest, as a procrastinator, I left most of the work until a week before my applications were due. I applied to nine colleges and lemme tell you: IT WAS NOT FUN WRITING, EDITING, AND REVISING THOSE SUPPLEMENTS WITHIN A WEEK. Please, PLEASE do not pull a me. This is one of the most important things in your life, and it is IMPERATIVE that you take it uber seriously. Because of my bad habits, I didn't apply to any schools early, so for all of those competitive colleges, I lost an opportunity at an acceptance or deferral. I remember that I actually finished my Common App essay two days before the first app deadline: 11:59:59 on January 1, 2018. Some supplements I began the day that it was due; I even submitted one app at 11:59:48. In short, I was a mess. SO PLEASE START EARLY.
Now, for the actual content of my application.
Up until my junior year, I thought that if you got good grades, you would automatically be accepted into an equally good college. While it is important to take challenging courses and maintain excellent grades and standardized test scores, I feel like colleges are looking for so much more than that. There are millions of high-achieving students, but what makes you worthy of the college you're applying to? What makes you stand out? For one, I think extracurriculars are crucial. They display your passions and your dedication. Furthermore, take advantage of those supplements! They exist not only for you to demonstrate your generic interest in the college, but to showcase WHO YOU ARE. I feel like colleges these days aren't looking for numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper; they're looking for people who will lead the future, for passionate people who will make a difference. Don't lie for this section; admissions officers can see right through you. Just present who you truly are.
Personally, for my extracurriculars, I put down all of my activities: track and field, art, violin, and an environmental club. I think there was another section where I listed my volunteering efforts; there, I wrote down how I went on an environmental trip to the Tibetan Plateau, volunteered as a part of Girl Up in a baseball stadium, helped out in Camp Jotoni, along with other efforts. For all of my essays, I took a consistent tree-hugger stance. I addressed programs and research conducted specifically by that college and avoided generic statements. I tied my activities to why I wanted to attend that specific college.
Actually, I just realized... In order to find your perfect fit for the future, you select a handful of colleges that you are interested in, significantly narrowing your search. Then, when you apply and get your acceptances/rejections, this search is narrowed that much more. Not only will you believe that you are a fit for the college, the college is a fit for you.
Damn.
ANYWHO.
To rising seniors, good luck. To peeps in my grade, good luck.
To those who still check in on this blog, thank you so much. I can't make promises for future posts, but as I said earlier, I will try!
Until next time!