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When I first started thinking seriously about college, the University of Vermont (UVM) quickly stood out as a top choice. Its strong programs, welcoming community, and focus on the environment felt like a perfect fit for my interests and goals. But as I learned more about the process, I realized the importance of having backup options and staying open-minded.
After a conversation with Ms.Thielen, I started researching other colleges by talking to friends, looking up schools online, and using college search tools. I created a spreadsheet to organize what I found, comparing programs, locations, and financial aid across different schools. This helped me feel more prepared and confident in my next steps as I balance my hopes for UVM with solid alternative plans.
College Spreadsheet
College Spreadsheet
I have spent my whole life believing I would have to attend the University of Vermont because of financial reasons, but this assignment has opened my eyes to more than ten colleges. I started this college spreadsheet because I wanted to research and organize my options to then compare each school based on academics, cost, campus life, and opportunities in my field of interest etc. It’s helped me realize that I have more choices than I thought and some out-of-state schools might actually be more affordable or offer better scholarships than I expected.
College- After researching and comparing several universities, I’ve ranked my top schools based on factors such as acceptance rates, tuition, financial aid, location, graduation and employment rates, and how well they align with my intended major (Animal Science) as well as my potential backup majors like criminology or pre-law.
My top choice is the University of Vermont (UVM). It has a very special animal science program, from all the amazing factors I have heard from undergrad animal science majors, to all the amazing qualities I have found online. Such as, hands-on lab opportunities, access to on campus farm animals, strong pre-vet advising, student to teacher ratios within the classroom, and all of the extra help offered. A reasonable acceptance rate of 59.8%, and high employment/graduation rate (94%). With in-state tuition at $30,000 and financial aid averaging with a range around $22,131, it’s both accessible and affordable. UVM’s location in Burlington I believe would make a great fit for me.
I’ve watched both my sister and brother be a part of the UVM community, and seeing my sister walk across the stage at graduation was emotional. I felt proud of her and inspired by the possibilities ahead. Their experiences showed me how supportive, engaging, and opportunity-filled UVM really is, which helped make it my top choice. At the same time, I’ve learned how important it is to be realistic and prepared. After a conversation with Ms. Thielen, I started looking into backup options. I explored other colleges by talking to friends, researching online, and attending college fairs.
My other top choices include Colorado State University which has one of the top ranked veterinary schools in the country and offers direct access to veterinary teaching hospitals, making it ideal for students like me, looking for early clinical exposure. They have a high acceptance rate (90.8%) and strong employment outcomes. Next would be the University of Florida, where they emphasizes research and lab-based learning in animal science. They have a high graduation and employment rates despite a competitive animal science program. While Cornell University and North Carolina State University have excellent reputations and strong outcomes, their low acceptance rates (7.5% and 9.5%) and high tuition make them more of a reach for me though I still plan on pursuing them.
Schools like UMass Amherst, the University of Delaware, and Ohio State are also strong contenders, offering good financial aid packages, solid academic programs, and flexibility with SAT requirements. Overall, I’ve prioritized schools that balance strong animal science programs with realistic admissions chances, financial aid, and career outcomes this will help me stay on track to become a veterinarian or explore other law or justice-related paths if I choose to shift directions.
Common App Essays
Responding to the college essay prompts was one of the most challenging but eye opening part of this process. At first, I felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what to say about myself and how to stand out. Though once I started brainstorming, I realized that the best approach was to be honest and personal. Instead of trying to sound perfect, I focused on my real experiences like, what shaped me, what I’ve overcome, and what I care about. It wasn’t easy to be that open, but it helped me understand myself better and made my writing more genuine. I also learned how important it is to revise and get feedback. Each time I answered a new prompt my writing got stronger and more confident. Writing these made me realize the essays aren't just as a part of the application process, but a way to tell my story.
Admission Process for the University of Vermont
Admission Process for the University of Vermont
Application Deadline:
Early Action-November 1, Regular Decision-January 15
Application Platform: Common App
Requirements: High school transcript, Personal essay (Common App prompt), One letter of recommendation, SAT/ACT: Test-optional,
Optional: Resume, interview, or additional letters
Admissions Style: Holistic meaning they look at academics, extracurriculars, essays, and personal qualities
Admission Process for Colorado State University
Admission Process for Colorado State University
Application Deadline:
Early Action-November 15, Regular Decision-January 15
Application Platform: Common App or CU Boulder application
Requirements: High school transcript, personal essay, one academic letter of recommendation, SAT/ACT: Test-optional
Admissions Style: Holistic meaning they consider GPA, rigor of courses, essays, and involvement
Admission Process for the University of New Hampshire
Admission Process for the University of New Hampshire
Application Deadline:
Early Action: November 15, Regular Decision: February 1
Application Platform: Common App or UNH Application
Requirements: High school transcript, personal essay, one letter of recommendation
Optional: Interview or extra materials for certain majors
Admissions Style: Holistic meaning they focus on academic performance, essay, and overall fit
My next Steps
My next Steps
-To the left are the college essay topics for this year.
Explore colleges beyond UVM – I plan to keep looking into the colleges I discovered through this assignment
Research scholarships and financial aid – I want to find out which schools offer the best financial support so I’m not limited by money
Compare colleges in detail – I’ll keep updating my spreadsheet to compare things like tuition, programs, location, and student life
Visit campuses (in person or virtually) – I want to get a feel for what life is like at the colleges I’m most interested in
Start preparing application materials – I’ll begin working on essays, gathering recommendation letters, and organizing deadlines
I then plan to pursue undergrad majoring in animal science. Then I plan to work as a vet tech during the summer between undergrad and vet school, to gain some more of that hands on experience while also gaining me a potential job for later in my life. Once the next school year comes around I will hopefully be accepted into a vet school and attending there.
Summer: (CIEE) Sydney, Australia~> Wildlife Conservation From Land to Sea
Brief background- I learned about this program through a Spanish teacher in our school. He had told me about a program to go abroad since I had been talking about it, and invited me to an ace to learn more. For the application process I had to write three short essays talking about why I wanted to go, my extracuricular activity's, my goals, and my family and i's financial situation (to determine scholarship scale). It was definitely on the expensive side, so scholarship was going to be the biggest factor. I've wanted to go to Australia since before I can even remember, i've always been such a big fan of their wildlife. I applied to two other abroad opportunities, though sadly they didn't have as much funding as CIEE has. I never thought I would get a scholarship at this level but I got more than half of the tuition covered. This program involves me going to Australia with a group of about 20 other people, learning about the ecosystem and writing up a report on the subject of my choice which will be ecosystem related. I will be living in a dorm styled apartment with around six other people for three weeks in July. I believe this trip will broaden my knowledge on animals, give me a real life college living scenario and really help me become more independent before I begin the next chapter in my life (college).
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