During junior year all you here about are the seniors talking about what colleges they are applying to and later on where they got accepted. You sit there listening to this and can not wait until you are that senior talking about applying to schools. Updating teachers on where you applied and where you were accepted. Going to all of the guidance counselor meetings that say the same thing over and over.
Once the time comes though, there is no time to bask in the glory of being a senior. You fill out applications, write essays, look for financial aid, study for SAT’s, and work hard in school. Not to mention jobs, sports, or community service obligations. The first semester of senior year is truly all work and no play. That being said it is completely worth it.
Students must go through this process because it is crucial to have all of the papers and documents that a specific college need by the deadline they give you. They need to first choose a list of colleges that would be a good fit for them. Then they need to obviously apply to that college and send in anything else that the school requires such as test scores or recommendations. Students do all of this because they want to take the next step in their education by attending college. Some will decide to go straight into the job market but most will take the college route.
All throughout school they have been told by teachers and administrators that people who go to college earn about one million dollars more in their life than someone who does not. They were told that getting a bachelors degree will get you a higher paying job quicker. That is biggest reason why most kids want to go to college. If they were not told that do you think they would want to go to school for four more years and have to pay for it? I definitely wouldn’t. Kids go through this process not thinking about how their life will be set up like for the following year; they are thinking about setting up their lives for the following 30-40 years.
Applying to college is the first sign to every high school senior that freedom is just on the horizon. That is what is in the back of their head as they complain about all of the work they need to do. It gives a target to aim for so that you can trick yourself into thinking that all of this work is not that bad. They know once this whole thing is over, they will hopefully be in the college of their choice and one step closer to living life on their own.
That alone is enough motivation to push through these long months with minimal complaint. Anyone who has gone through the process knows that all of the forms they filled out, all of the meetings the went to, and all of the websites they scoured for information will be completely worth it come next August when they enjoy their rewards. ###
The college admission process is what every high school student dreams about from the day they start freshman year until the last day of junior year.