College Admissions Limbo and the Home Stretch

Aaron Watson-Sharer

Editor

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We all know the first half of your senior year is when you have to prove to colleges that your first three years weren’t a fluke. Some courses become more demanding and you have more outside of the classroom responsibilities. Between assuming major roles in all your activities, you have the very important task of applying to college.

I used to believe applying was as easy as finding your top choices, paying a fee, and clicking submit. It’s nowhere near that. Going into junior year, I could only name a handful of colleges which weren’t premiere athletic schools. Of the ten schools I applied to, I knew only three before this past summer. By the end of the application process, I wrote north of 15 supplemental essays; which are often required by moderately selective to very selective universities.

But now I stand here in what I like to call, the college admissions limbo, waiting for ten schools to reply back so I can make a decision. Two schools have responded thus far, and I’ve been admitted to both, which is a confidence booster. With my semester grades written in stone, what do I do now?

I have courses and a capstone that need my attention. But there is the feeling that the rest of the time between now and decisions is going to be a mellow experience. There’s a stigma that now we only have to pass. I’m experiencing a mild case of “senioritis”, that doesn’t reflect in my classes, I just don’t want to stay up until 2 A.M anymore doing schoolwork. I just want to put in one more semester and it enjoy it while it’s here.

February I’d like to learn a new skill in my classes or gain a new interest, I tried my best to have courses that would benefit me senior year. Part of me wants to take double history classes to keep an interest of mine strong but the other half in me says there’s no need and I should just rest easy.

This time of senior year is mentally exerting. It shows your dedication and care about something besides a statistic. Those teachers who wrote a recommendation vouching for me shouldn’t regret that because I’ve chosen to be lazy.

So for these next months, my mind will be in another place, college applications limbo. Where I hope I get into my top choices but I will do my best to keep up my grades along with making sure the baseball team is ready for the season. All I want to do is enjoy the end of my high school career, in and out of the classroom.