OPINIONS

The College Process

by Eliana Duarte

As my senior year has begun, life has turned into a common app frenzy. Making sure all of my essays are done on time and eloquently has been a challenge. I’m sure it has been for the rest of the seniors as well. Organizing college applications, making sure payments are done properly, scheduling SAT’s and ACT’s, and paying for them- it seems like the process will never end. I personally cannot wait for the sigh of relief, when everything is finished. All of the blood, sweat, tears, and countless hours poured into college applications seem and feel grueling.

All of that just for what will eventually just be one college? It’s all overwhelming. Especially if you don’t have older siblings guiding the way. As well some parents might be feeling helpless if helping with college applications on common app is a first experience. My mother had never heard of common app prior to me explaining what it was. Trying to figure out why an application wouldn’t submit (I was one letter over on my essay) nearly drove us crazy. Common app does make applying a lot easier in the sense that most colleges are listed. However the tedious unexplained rules on the app and website do not make anything easier.

Unfortunately, several colleges that are not listed on common app make for another fun adventure. The fun adventure of essentially redoing every single detail on a colleges website. Along with redoing the application, individual applications usually have more detail and make for more headaches. If colleges want more students wouldn’t they make the application process easier? I mean somehow you have to prove you want to go to college. However, I think there should be more creative ways for students to get in. Sure some colleges have video essays as a form of applying; but what about something like baking a magnificent treat and sending it to an admissions office? Or maybe taking an admissions officer on a fun filled day, telling them fun facts about you until they are begging for you to attend their college? All I’m saying is that applying could be easier and interesting.