An Inside Look at the College Application Process

By, Amelia White

It’s the final stretch to summer and all students, including the underclassmen, are antsy. Seniors are ready to relax and prepare for college, while juniors are just beginning the strenuous process of applying. Almost all the information underclassmen need to know about the college process can be found from guidance, but let’s be real – they want the honest and gritty advice from the kids who just experienced it all.

For starters, juniors will want to think about which teachers they want to ask to write recommendations for them. You’ll probably need two from teachers, and one from your guidance counselor. Ask teachers early because some of them will have many requests for recommendations and might turn you down if you ask too late.

GPA and SATs/ACTs play a large factor in every student’s application to college. Ask your guidance counselor about your weighted and un-weighted GPA if you take honors and AP classes.

Any senior you talk to will recommend that juniors take the SAT twice. The College Board combines your best scores from both tests to create a final score, which can really make the difference if you struggled in math on the first test but did much better on the second test. The College Board will take your better score over the other. ACTs differ from the SATs by the format and content. ACTs have a science section whereas the SATs do not. The ACTs have the essay at the end of the test, while the SATs have the essay at the beginning of the test.

Another question that is frequently asked is the difference between Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision. Early Decision binds you to that school if you are accepted. If you are accepted by Early Decision, you must withdraw all your other applications. People usually apply Early Decision to their top/reach school. Early Action has the same application due dates as Early Decision but it is non-binding. If you are accepted to a school by Early Action, you do not have to withdraw your other applications; you just find out earlier than Regular Decision applicants. Regular Decision dates usually fall on February 1 or earlier. Regular Decision applicants tend to hear back from schools before or on April first.

Underclassmen who are interested in attending art schools (which include music, acting, visual art, and performing art) must remember the differences in the application to these schools. Auditions are a huge part of the application process if you are applying to a music, performing art, or an acting school. For visual art schools, you must submit an online portfolio of your best works. It’s quite the process; formatting, editing, and measuring are all required. Additionally, visual art students usually have specific essay prompts they need to answer as part of the application process.

Popular colleges that Medfield students have applied to and attended  in the past few years include University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, Providence College, University of Rhode Island, Northeastern University, Boston University, Emmanuel College, Bridgewater State University, University of Loyola Maryland, University of Maryland College Park, Roger Williams University, University of Connecticut, Connecticut College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, University of Colorado Boulder, Elon University, Stonehill College, St. Lawrence University, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

“Start looking into schools your junior year; it will take a lot of the pressure off senior year, which is stressful enough as it is,” says senior Tori Bodozian. “Some kids started their college essay the summer before their senior year, some waited until the school year started.”

 Time management is key to a successful and less-stressful college application process. The class of 2013 wishes good luck to the incoming senior class on their college application process!

This article was written by Amelia White, a Medfield High School student and member of the student newspaper, The Kingsbury Chronicle. The piece is part of Medfield Patch's weekly series, "Warrior Weekly," helping provide information about MHS to the local community.