By Nicole Kang, Canyon High School, Grade 12
December 28, 2010___Schools are empty for winter break and many students have been deeply anticipating the arrival of January 1, though not for the celebration that marks New Year. Many students share in the stress that may cause some tossing and turning, losing precious sleep over the dreaded date that marks the end of the beginning of the pursuit of college: the college application deadline.
High school seniors who have endured the last three years of grades, tests, finals, and projects have just a few more obstacles to hurdle on their way to graduation, but the obstacles are far from small; college applications, without a doubt, are a huge task to complete – a grave task that must be done, and a scary task that must be submitted.
University of California (UC) applications and some others aside, the next big, looming deadline for turning in college applications, especially for the colleges of the private variety, is January 1. Some seniors start early in the summer before senior year, others start in the fall at the beginning of the school year. Regardless, usually for what is known as “Regular Decision,” applications must all be submitted by the first day of the New Year.
The Common Application, an application available online, is used by many private schools in the United States. Consisting of general information and addendums such as honors, accolades, and activities that applicants are encouraged to mention, the application includes what many seniors consider to be the bane of the whole entire application process: the personal statement, the personal essay, or, affectionately referred to by those have to write it, the demon writing prompt that no one wants to face.
Regardless of what type of application, it seems this essay is impossible to avoid except for California State University (CSU) applications.
Even the dreaded – and dare the seniors say, hated – essay is not the only thing that applicants scramble to complete. While it may not be as difficult as the essay, filling out the actual applications is a common dread.
“I wish it was all over already – can’t the acceptance or rejection letters come in already?” Christine Han, a senior at Canyon High School, implored.
Joanne Villaroman, also a Canyon High School senior, reflects similar sentiments. “Why is this so difficult? The application makes it impossible to focus properly at school. Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of the apps? We have to show that we have done and are doing well in school…”
Despite the commonly experienced unhappiness, most students understand that filling out and submitting college applications is a grueling, but necessary step in the process of increasing educational opportunities. Seniors – future, present, and past – must endeavor to complete this difficult task and move on to other obstacles that are sitting in the path to graduation and beyond. But for now, the class of 2011 must trudge through the inferno of college applications to greet the New Year – the last semester of high school life.
