Students Stress Over College Applications

“I’m applying to princeton I was wondering if i could have help with supplemental essays. submitted by /u/heyx68336 [link] [comments]”

“For context, my school doesn't offer APs, I would have to self study everything. I have given AP Psych and gotten a 5 with about a month of studying, though I understand it's an easy AP. My school does offer the CIE curriculum, and in my IGCSEs I had Math, Chem, Phy, Bio, FLE, French, Econ, CS (all A*). Currently, I am in AS Level with Chem, Bio, Math, EGP, and Psych (fuck chem). Now, my main goal of taking APs would be receiving credit or being able to test out of introductory courses.”

“How do I even start applying.. submitted by /u/megthecatlol [link] [comments]”

“So EA is due tmr yay... I have 2 essays, both of which are basically done, I just need to lock in for an hour or two editing it and it'll be great. So one of them is about me having trypophobia I connect that to me overwhelming myself with things I want to accomplish and I connect it to cybersecurity. I like the idea, I hate HATE my execution, I've rewritten it 3 times and I still can't get it right. So, I randomly started writing about my ethnic name, I have a nickname that's th”

“I'm a HS Senior (CO27) and I plan to major in psychology no matter what school I attend. However, a lot of schools I'm applying to have a question asking what my 2nd and 3rd choice majors are. Most of the time there is at least one other major that interests me, even if psych is still my top choice, but for many of these schools, I can't find any major that I would want to put as a third choice. They're never required, but should I answer these questions anyway (to indicate demon”

“Would love to hear how others are approaching the “Why This School/Why This Major?” essays. Our college application specialist recommends a pretty traditional structure: mention a couple of classes and professors, clubs/extracurriculars, and other specific opportunities at the school. I understand the need to show that you’ve done your research, but I worry that this approach can start to read like a laundry list or a regurgitation of the college website rather than a compelling essay about the”

“Edit: asking about the Common App essay I know the overall goal is for colleges to get an idea of who you are as a person, but I'm kind of struggling with what the conclusion of the essay is supposed to be. Should it just be something along the lines of "I want to continue growing and pursuing these interests/ideas/etc"? Or something less vague? Advice appreciated 🙏🏼🙏🏼 submitted by /u/InstructionNo7649 [link] [comments]”

“I'm a Grade 12 in Canada and I really want to get into Columbia. Any tips/advice from current or previous students? submitted by /u/ten_thingsIhateabtu [link] [comments]”

“ive heard mixed opinions on this. and im still procrastinating on uni apps. submitted by /u/Various_Character794 [link] [comments]”

“I’m planning for Round 2 and my list is at seven schools right now. Two of them are there because of the name, not because I’d go. Anyway, each extra school means more essays, more research, and more favors from my recommenders. That’s why my manager already asked how many letters she’ll have to submit. So would you cut to four strong apps or keep it seven for more chances? What made you drop a school even when the name was big? submitted by /u/SkylaLawson5459 [link] [comments]”

“(Not entirely sure this is the right reddit for this, if it isn't could someone point me to the right place?) Hi! I want to know what the best colleges that I could realistically qualify for are since I'm not the best at self assessment. I'd prefer a west coast school and I'm hoping to major in something along the lines of politics or journalism. (Also tips on improving my applications before senior year would be lovely.) I'm a junior right now, I've been taking practice”

“so originally i was just going to apply to 13 schools but now my parents want me to apply to 1-2 more selective schools for some reason... i have a 32 superscore act pretty good ecs, come from a smaller school have taken 8 aps when my school average is 2 and i think my essays are also pretty good. i want to major in poli sci on a pre law track and want a school that is collaborative, very big on social justice and such.. i also dont mind going test optional. right now im thinking northeastern bu”

“i want to apply to penn state's honors college, but they have a crazy amount of essays. since it's one of my safeties, i was wondering if i should 1) apply now, or 2) apply only if i actually go there, which would make it so i can't do the honors college during my freshman year, but would save me a lot of work. thanks for any advice submitted by /u/No-Fox-1226 [link] [comments]”

“I've finished most of my essays but I'm stuck on this one prompt for Tufts: " Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process. (75-150 words)." I know this is just a reframed "why us?" essay but I'm struggling with how to structure it within the word limit. Anyone have any advice? submitted by /u/No_Yak_1921 [link] [comments]”

“Everybody wants to be an astronaut An essay about how everyone truly just wants to get away from this world. How easy it would be to forget our problems if we just became astronauts. It’ll explain how wanting to be an astronaut is just a longing feeling but actually becoming/pursuing it is desperation, my desperation. A desperation to escape, a guilty desperation to not care for anyone or anything in this world and just leave. That's what we need but people are too bound by worldly desires t”

“Hi everyone, looking for a reality check on my senior year schedule and course rigor. I plan on applying to all my schools as a drama/theatre major with an intention for an interdisciplinary studies humanities major, and I’m EDing (in-state) to UVA. I took IB Math Applications SL early, and finished SL 2 in my junior year (got an A- both years). For senior year, I’m currently taking Dual Enrollment Pre-Calculus w/Trig (1.0 GPA boost, same as an IB). But my concern is that because I’m taking DE P”

“I'm applying as a music major, so naturally I took a lot of music courses in high school. 2-3 a year. My school obviously doesn't count these as AP-level courses (because they aren't, except for music theory) so my courseload, rank, etc. are a bit lower because I couldn't load up on these rigorous courses. I tried to take nearly exclusively APs outside of music. Since students aiming for stem/humanities had more AP/IB courses available directly, they were naturally able to surpas”

“Okay this is a genuine question and I really hope it is not a dumb one…BUT i’m applying to a few more selective colleges like dreammm schools and majority of my ec are with music, it’s a huge time commitment and i’ve spent most ALL of my highschool career doing this because I go to an art school. So my question is, if my intended major which is music history and culture and ec’s strongly align does that increase my chances in any way? I’ve been under the assumption that it will because it shows”

“hi!!! posting here again because college apps are coming up and i need as much advice as i can get!!! my dream is to go to USC and major in acting for stage and screen with a minor in songwriting. its all i’ve ever dreamed about but i know how competitive it is and im worried about my shot of getting in. this is what my college path has looked like so far: sf state fall2023- spring 2024 gap semester junior college spring 2025 sf state fall 2025 junior college spring 2026, summer 2026, fall 2026”

“hiii!! i am class of 27 and applying to college rn. my family is relatively wealthy, but not wealthy enough to pay for a college counselor that charges 500 dollars for every zoom call, so i’m sort of navigating the application process by myself. i have been struggling to write my common app essay, and i write drafts and usually hate them soon after. i have one draft i think i like right now, but really i have no idea if it’s any good, and i have nothing to base it on. i don’t really want my fami”

“Hey all, I'm a high school senior trying to figure out where to apply for college. I live in Virginia, and am a member of one of our Governor's Schools, but I want to go to an urban OOS if feasible. I'm looking to attend college for Computer Science, as I want to pursue a career in Computer Network Engineering eventually. - 1440 SAT, hopefully up to at least 1480 after the 3 Oct session - 10 APS + 1 DE class previous years, +6APS this year. Also 3 pltw courses - 4.85/5 weighted GPA M”

“I'm in my freshman year of highschool, and unsure of when to start taking college/uni serious. I don't know what to look for in schools, I don't know what I want, and I'm unsure what school would suit me best. I'm currently in Alaska, and wondering if maybe a school in Canada would be a better convenience for me (For insight: I'm thinking maybe when I'm older I may debate living in Canada). I wouldn't mind the foreign area, and travelling to and from wouldn't”

“Hi! I would love feedback and college advice for my future. I’m a senior in highschool who’s planning on doing early apps and scholarships. Also still in the middle of finding my pathway but i’m sure on majoring in Medical/Biomedical sciences, stuff like that. Maybe something related to film or media for a minor as im interested in that. My current focus for out of state colleges has been on NYC and any major city area! I’m not rich at all and i’d consider myself lower middle class. I’d be finan”

“Hii!! I'm a senior interested in majoring in English with minors in Philosophy and African American Studies on the pre-law track. I'm hoping for a full ride or at least most of the cost covered, as I want to enter law school with little to no debt. My GPA is a 4.41(Weighted) and 3.95(Unweighted) I have taken 9 classes at the University of Memphis as a dual-enrollment student over the past three years (27 credits). I am also scheduled to take AP Environmental Science next semester. My non”

“Hi! I am writing my college application essay right now and I wanted my topic to be about my OCD. I was diagnosed a few years ago, and it deeply changed my outlook on life. I want to be a psychologist now because of it so I can help as many people out as possible! I know mental health is a risky topic for a college essay, but it's more how the diagnosis made me realize I want to help people with their own struggles. Should I pivot to another idea? submitted by /u/octopieee_ [link”

“I got a 1590 (790 Reading/800 English) on the last paper SAT as a freshman; however, I also got a 36 (35 English, 36 math & reading) on the July ACT. Now as I’m applying to colleges, I’m unsure which one to submit to schools. I’ll be applying ED out of state to Cornell with a major in Plant Sciences. I’m also applying to these schools + some unmentioned safeties: - Virginia Tech - University of Florida - UIUC - UW Madison - Purdue University - Texas A&M - UM Amherst Any advice for what t”

“So I have already written a collage essay but after talking to my counselor she has convinced me to do something different but idk how to go about it. I have always been a good student. I take AP classes participate in academic teams, sports, and other various extracurriculars, but last year,my junior, everything went to shit. It started with my ADHD meds causing me to become depressed so I stopped taking them, which lead to me struggling to get work done and be motivated to do anything. Through”

“Basically the title. I'm having some trouble figuring out a reasonable colleges list. My intended majors are Computer, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. Here are my stats: I have a 3.7 UW 4.42 W GPA with pretty mid ecs. My SAT = 1200 something. Debating on whether to retake it or just go test optional. APs Ive taken (AP calc AB, stat, lang, apush, ap world) + 4 more senior year. Here are my extracurriculars = part time job at a coding place where i taught kids how to code (10th lwk lear”

“I’m a senior applying to colleges right now. How do I know what colleges are good for my major and what do I look for in a college to make it on my applying list? I’m going to major in accounting, and I have very mid stats. My SAT score is in the 1300s and my GPA is 103 (weighed)/95 (unweighted). I did 2 sports in one year (I transferred schools the year after I started unfortunately), got top 10 in DECA states, I’m in National Honor Society and English Honor Society, I have a job (at my moms na”

“I’m sure this has been posted millions of times, but what are things you’ve found most confusing about applying/attending for college? It could be related to FAFSA, financial aid in general, admissions, transferring, graduating on time, etc. You also don't have to be in high school or currently attending college, former college students, parents, counselors, non-traditional students, etc. are more than welcome too I'd genuinely just love to hear what people think to help me polish up som”

“okay guys I’m a senior and college aps are getting to me, I still don’t know where I want to go I need help on possible college options here are my needs and wants college radio strong social sciences culture rich area night life research adjacent or close to political hubs (dc) I like rain and warmer weather lgbtq/poc heavy OR present at the very least I think I like football culture submitted by /u/iamthesunandtheheir [link] [comments]”

“The Statement of Purpose for UT Austin is looking for my interest in my chosen major (Biology) and my preparation for said major. I am still researching ways to integrate experiences and activities I have done/am going to do to help write this essay. But, I am also wondering do I include other things like why I don't think my current school is a good fit for me and why I think UT would be better? Or should I stick to focusing on my major and the interest behind it? More specifically, I go to”

“Hi! Question in the title. I'm in my senior year of high school right now. I have a very vague idea of what I would want to major in, but I have 0 idea what college I would actually want to go to, so I haven't made any decisions or started the application process. None of my relatives that I am in contact with have gone to college either, so I really have no idea what I'm doing here and have not made any preparations for... Anything, really. I originally planned to take a gap year af”

“College eassy Hey guys! I am seeking for some people who could help write a great college essay I’m a transfer student and I’m seeking to write essay that actually can help me a lot since my gpa is 3.3, I have a great story but and came from 3rd world country by myself to USA when I was 13, I just need a good way to put all of those in words. I’m looking to apply to Princeton, Columbia and Barnard College. I could definitely do something in return! Thank you! submitted by /u/Internat”

“I'm trying to assemble my college list and I have WAY TOO MANY. I aspire to go to a T20 (ik it might be unrealistic and I do have safeties), but I'm looking to narrow down that list for a biology related undergrad major. I'm still not completely sure what I want to do, but something related to biology, microbiology, or possibly pre-dent. This isn't my full list but I'm looking to cut from here: Vanderbilt Case Western Georgia Tech WashU Cornell Duke JHU Northwestern Brown Sta”

“I can’t break 30 on my act, and want to know if anyone has gotten in test optional. submitted by /u/No-Manner5922 [link] [comments]”

“So this is my first post ever, but after taking the September SAT, I sort of kicked into high gear with my college apps, and I just wanted to broaden my horizons in terms of what colleges I should apply to. Some of my preferences for colleges are small, liberal arts schools and small-size classes. I personally really prioritize curiosity and learning, so any schools that prioritize that I really like. But I honestly don't really care. Personal Info: Hispanic, Afro-Latina. Fluent in both Span”

“I’m a junior in high school and I’d appreciate some advice about strengthening my college application over the next year or two. I haven’t taken the SAT yet, but I’m planning to take it in a few months. I’m also currently doing dual enrollment and started with two classes. I plan to increase my course load over my next three semesters. My main passion is film, and I’m considering double majoring in college. Film is what I really want to pursue, but I also want a more practical career option, so”

“I’m applying ED to Nu and have a rough draft of my “why Northwestern” essay. But, I don’t know if it’s too generic. Does anyone have any tips about how they went about their essay? Any help would be greatly appreciated! submitted by /u/Southern-Angle-3027 [link] [comments]”

“I'm starting my applications as a spring transfer in dire need of financial aid and while i am pretty well accomplished as a student (good grades, lots of ECs), I've been told by multiple friends that I have so much trauma I have overcome and that my life story is very inspiring. My first essay draft was about my debate journey bc its my most consistent EC but idk is it better if i write about how my dad died last year and I am basically Devi Vishuakumar with 10 times more mommy issues?”

“Hi everyone! My friend and I were struggling to find time to dedicate for college applications, and we thought of starting a zoom call for people applying for colleges to work on their essays. The zoom call would be mute and quiet, but preferably cameras on to have motivation to work. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll send you more details and the zoom link. I live in Pacific Time, so meetings times might vary. Thanks! THIS IS NOT AN AD OR PROMOTION! submitted by /u/Sistarsla”

“Can anyone give me feedback on my college essay🥹🙏 I’m an international student here, planning to apply for colleges in America. Low income background so I can’t really afford professional college consultants. I ask AI for feedback and it keeps telling me to fix somewhere and after I did, it tells me to change again and again😭 I really need real human help me with it, so please if you’re an alumni, that would help me a lot🥺 submitted by /u/FootEducational1396 [link] [comment”

“So currently im in 11th grade worried for college so asking few questions 1st question - how many collages should one apply to and in general how many colleges do people apply to 2nd question - should I start preparing for entercnce exams right now \- how many should I give \- should I take coaching 3rd question - are extra curricular activities actually important for Indian Colleges if yes which ones should I do If you have any other advice for me or things i should take care of pls let me know”

“Hello there! I'm an Indian Class 11 humanities student aiming for Ivy League undergraduate admissions. I have Psychology, Political Science, History, Geography and English. I'm interested in the intersection of law, psychology (i think?) and public policy. What should I realistically focus on during Classes 11–12, especially academics, extracurriculars, research and standardized testing? I feel like it's not for me since i have one enemy in this world and if maths wasn't a thing,”

“Hi all, I am a senior and applying to colleges. I am working on supplementary essays. I want to major in Electrical Engineering. For the "Why Major" essays, or questions similar to it, will colleges view it worse if I mention an activity I did as late as the summer entering senior year? I knew I wanted to major in engineering prior to that but not EE specifically. It wasn't until I first tinkered with Arduino microcontrollers and created many small projects that I knew it was for m”

“I’m currently going to a college that’s really heavy on Greek life and sports and it’s not really what I want for a social life. Does anyone know of good colleges for kind of alternative scenes? I have trouble describing it, but like house parties with emo or goth people and live music and what not. I like the “weird” alternative kinda gay people, and I’m really struggling to find somewhere that has that kind of social scene. Thanks for any advice; I’m kind of shooting in the dark here. su”

“Hi! I’m building my college list and would love honest advice. I’m mainly looking for HBCUs, schools with a strong Black population, and schools with strong financial aid for low-income students. I also want 2 reach schools that can be PWIs like duke and Emory. Stats: 3.9 Unweighted GPA / 4.4 Weighted GPA Dual Enrollment, AP, and MYP IB Classes National Honor Society One AP APUSH — 3 ACT not taken yet — predicting 27–30 Law, Government & Leadership: ACLU National Advocacy Institute — got to”

“I currently have 3 paragraphs rn, 1 about what sparked my interest, 1 about how i developed it in high school, and a longer one at the end about what i want to do in my future and how going to this school would help. Im just not sure what would maybe be the most important thing to add in submitted by /u/Agitated-Cup-7109 [link] [comments]”

“When writing college supplemental essays, is it better for each essay to reinforce a consistent image of who you are, or should each one reveal a completely different side of you? I understand that the essays shouldn’t repeat the same stories, but I’m unsure how much they should connect. Should they build one clear narrative around a few central qualities, or should I use each supplement to cover a different interest, experience, or personality trait to appear more well-rounded? For Duke, my per”

“Hi! I have just started my sophomore year at a relatively small private school in southern California. I’m an out of state student from the deep south, so I came here to the school that gave me the biggest scholarship in hopes of gaining more connections and a better career path in the arts than I would have had at home. I am currently studying creative writing because I am very naturally skilled at it and want to work in storyline development for animated projects and especially story-based vid”

“Hi! I have just started my sophomore year at a relatively small private school in southern California. I’m an out of state student from the deep south, so I came here to the school that gave me the biggest scholarship in hopes of gaining more connections and a better career path in the arts than I would have had at home. I am currently studying creative writing because I am very naturally skilled at it and want to work in storyline development for animated projects and especially story-based vid”

“Hello! This is my first time posting here and I need some help. So for reference I have a 4.3 weighted GPA and I’m a dual enrollment student so at the end of this year I’ll be graduating early with my associates degree as a high school senior. I live in Texas currently but I fell in love with the PNW. I plan to major in business management or a general business and apply to Oregon state, university of Oregon, WSU, and some UC schools. Although I’m a little worried about how business is in the PN”

“Hi! I’m applying to college to start Fall 2027 as an international student. The central themes surrounding my essay is how I learned to process my environment in an analytical manner stemming from self abstraction to cope with constantly dealing with separate truths and complicated family dynamics (I feel like I just said a bunch of nothing LOL), birthing an interest in understanding others and their minds from an objective point and through empathy. I use the object of poetry magnets (little fr”

“just curious, rank them from most important to least and why: grades/gpa, sat/act, demographics, extracurriculars, awards, essays/supplementals, LoRs, interviews, and financial background submitted by /u/These_Ad7862 [link] [comments]”

“I was wondering if I should submit js my 35 ACT or if I should include my 1510 superscore SAT because it's also a pretty decent score imo. Im applying to most of the T20's btw. submitted by /u/Suspicious_Sink9036 [link] [comments]”

“I ask because I was under the impression that art schools are not interested in impressive EC's, and they focus on portfolio 100%. Yet, your counselor rec letter will directly compare you to your peers. If you have minimal ECs, how can they give you an enthusastic rec? submitted by /u/PizzaShoelace [link] [comments]”

“I'm genuinely SO exhausted with the whole college process right now. It's almost September and I'm STILL stuck between different options 😭 My sister keeps suggesting completely different colleges, my family has their own preferences, and I have my own things I'm looking for. Every time I think I've finally narrowed it down, someone gives me another option and I'm back to square one 💀 The worst part is that if I choose a college myself and something goes wrong later, I a”

“Colleges require the essay by end of november if I am not wrong.So I started writting my main essay but I want to get it checked to know if it’s good enough. Does anyone have any recommendations where I can find a human to grade it and give me some advice on how to make it better? submitted by /u/donutpegasusfox [link] [comments]”

“Did anyone use or is using a private counselor to help in admissions process, especially in building a narrative and a strategy for essays. Ideally, we are looking for someone who specializes in finance/economics/business/law majors. My daughter is already on the path of picking up the right courses, EC and summer programs. Please provide recommendations if the student enjoyed working with them and had strong admissions outcomes. Thanks. submitted by /u/Organic_Fig_736 [link] [”