By Steph Wetzel
Senior year has finally come for the class of 2017, the year of saying goodbye, senioritis, prom, and of course, saying hello to college applications. This is the first year that college applications are due earlier than usual. Guidance encouraged the students to get all of their SAT and ACT testing done by the end of June. They are also encouraging the students to finish their applications, including their college essays and letters of recommendation, by October 1st.
Every University has its own deadlines for application; however, guidance is still advising that the students get all of their applications done around the same time.
Some seniors are finding themselves stressed out and under pressure because of the application deadline quickly approaching while others are glad to be done with the application process. Senior Conor Brown is nervous yet relieved that the applications are due earlier. “I haven’t finished my essays yet, I just know I’m sending my application to UB,” Brown said. Other students are worried about balancing their time between school work, sports and clubs, and filling out their applications.
Senior Maria Bigos is nervous about the applications being due earlier. “It’s a lot to get done while you’re not in school. In school, you can have your teachers help; however, during the summer, you can only do so much before you need assistance from the guidance department. I’ve done pretty much everything except my essays,” Bigos stated.
Senior Kristin Filipiak has similar feelings towards the topic. “I have to be sure on where I want to go so I can apply soon. I started to narrow down where I want to go and what I want to do,” Filipiak said.
Students also have to consider whether or not they want to apply for early action and early decision. Students have to consider the fact that they cannot apply to other schools during the time they apply for early action. Some are not willing to make that type of commitment and are aiming to receive scholarships, while others are eager to find out if they got accepted.
Senior Caroline Schnabel feels that early decision is beneficial if the student is certain that school is where they want to go. “If no other school is anywhere near competing with it on your list, then I think it’s a good idea,” Schnabel said, “I am going to apply early decision to UB.”
Is this how students should be spending the start of their last year of highschool? Stressing over where they want to live for the next four years, worrying about if they are going to be accepted into their “dream school,” thinking about student loans? It is said that your years in high school are the best four years of your life, and students need to spend the last of those four years thinking about what they want to do within the next four years?
Although it is beneficial to get the whole process over with, more time should be given for these students. They deserve more time to decide where they want to go to school for the next 4-8 years and what they want to be doing for the next 40 years.
