What I Wish I Knew About Applying to College

As a first-generation college student, I didn’t receive much formal help throughout the college process. My parents left the entire college application and decision process to me to figure out, and while I’d like to think I did fine on my own, I know they did that out of necessity and not by choice. I joined a college program for NYC-based FGLI students called Y Tu Tambien (YTT) and sought out my older peers and guidance counselors for help regarding essays, research, and interviewing. I am forever grateful to the people who helped me with the college application process, and I am so happy with the school I’m attending. However, I often reflect on the process and wonder what I could have done differently. Once you submit your application, everything is out of your hands. But here are some things I wish I had done/not done that might have helped me during the decision process. 

First, apply for scholarships early. If you are in the middle/lower-middle class or have assets, colleges (especially public out-of-state colleges) will not give you money. Because I thought I would end up somewhere with better aid, I didn’t take scholarship applications as seriously as I should have. It is hard to realize how expensive college is until you see the financial aid offer, and unless there is a change in your financial situation, schools may not be keen to give you more money. Complete your FAFSA, CSS, and NYHESC applications early! There are also numerous private scholarships ranging from full rides like Questbridge, Posse, or the Gates scholarship, to large sums like the ones offered by Coca-Cola. While large sums of money seem more appealing, do not ignore the smaller/more niche scholarships. Just be aware of scholarship scams, like any scholarship you have to pay to apply to.  

One huge mistake I made throughout the process was having too many people read over my essay. While my peers didn’t read them, I sought out numerous college students to shred my work apart. In hindsight, I lost my voice after letting so many people project their opinions and biases into my work. It is good to step back from your work and receive objective criticism from editors. However, I wish I had let fewer people edit my essays and focused more on who was reviewing my work rather than how many people were.

As tempting as it is to focus on one part of your application and present that as the crown jewel of your accomplishments, the whole picture is crucial. I wouldn’t focus on developing only one part of your application. Everyone knows to keep their grades up and have balanced extracurriculars, but the college application process is ultimately about crafting a narrative about yourself. Colleges want to know who you are outside of school: about your values and morals, your background, and what your upbringing has taught you. 

When I was touring, I only went to schools with similar profiles. It sounds like a good idea in theory but works against you while researching.  From the beginning of the college process, I always wanted to attend a small, liberal-arts-leaning private college located in a big city. So I thought. As a result, I only toured schools fitting this profile and didn’t open myself up to all of my other options. I am now attending a large state school that is huge on football, located in a college town. While I love my current school, I wish I had explored those kinds of schools earlier; if I knew I was open to larger schools in small towns, I would have applied to more schools fitting this profile. 

The college application process is hell. It was about a year of sleepless nights ridden with anxiety and hopelessness. I often felt like I was letting everyone down, and that my work meant nothing. As hard as it is in the moment, you need to be able to step back. I didn’t end up where I was expecting to, AT ALL. I got rejected from my dream school and was devastated. I was rejected by every Ivy I applied to and my favorite target schools. It’s so important to take pride in your work and realize that this time will pass. Very few people end up exactly where they want to go, and sometimes you go through the wringer until you finally end up where you’re meant to be. I promise you that everything works out for a reason, and there will be so many opportunities to carve out your path. Good luck y’all!