Engaging Hearts & Minds: The College Admission Process is a Journey of Self-Discovery

By Alex Catalan and Julie DiRoma

The college admission process can be daunting and overwhelming for students and parents alike. Many students enter high school at full speed and view it as a race toward the college acceptance finish line, or they put too much emphasis on test scores and resume building. In reality, the college search process is as much about personal growth and self-discovery as it is about the end goal — getting into college.

In a meaningful college search process, a student should feel more confident about themselves, their interests and their values. It’s a process for a reason — each year of high school, students are building from what they learned the year before. 

Knowing what to focus on and at what time are key to making the process successful.

Tips for Freshmen

Simply stated, do well academically. Freshman year is the foundation of a student’s high school GPA, so it is important to have a proper balance in a class schedule and not push for too much challenge or rigor. 

This year is about finding joy and happiness in high school, making friends and getting involved in clubs and activities. Instead of actively delving into the college process, focus on getting good grades, joining a team and making new friends, which is also preparing for the college admission journey.

Tips for Sophomores

Sophomore year is a continuation of the foundational work of freshman year; students should continue to focus on doing their best academically and getting involved. While sustained involvement is important, sophomores, and even juniors, should not feel like they cannot explore a new interest because they would lose the longevity of another. As long as students are filling their time with something they enjoy, that is for the best.

Volunteering is a great opportunity for students to be introduced to community organizations and resources. It can be a form of career exploration for students without having to be an internship or job shadow.

This is also a great time to start casually visiting colleges. It is not about flying to see a dream school but maybe visiting a nearby college while on summer vacation to see a variety of sizes and types of college campuses. 

In Cincinnati, students have numerous colleges within driving distance and can explore them through camps, attending performances or even walking around on their own self-guided tour. 

Tips for Juniors

Junior year is the time to do more in-depth college visits. Students should research specific topics at certain colleges and attend an informational session at a college admission office. 

Keep an open mind, which is a tip for students and parents alike. Oftentimes, when we first meet with students, they have a college in mind. There are more than 2,000 colleges in the United States alone. The college admission process is about finding the right fit for each student, not just the name they recognize from college football or because family went there. 

The cost of college is another important factor, and we encourage families to explore affordability options. The key to success is finding a college the student loves, can get admitted to and is a good financial fit for the family.

This is one of the most important years academically because it is the last full year a college admissions officer will see with a student’s college application. Students should be appropriately challenged and should start digging deeper into areas of interest, taking on a leadership role in a club or on a team or volunteering weekly at an organization where they earned their community service hours. 

Junior year is also the time for college admission testing. Most students begin in the middle of their junior year, but every student has their own needs and timeline when it comes to test prep and the tests themselves. It is important to not begin too early, which can often add stress to the process.

Tips for Seniors

The summer before senior year is the perfect time to get started on the college essay and gather information needed for the college application. Starting early is important because senior year coursework and fun activities related to senior year ramp up quickly, and most applications are due in early November. 

Most seniors are often surprised that, after all the stress and anxiety, there is not much to a college application. It is mostly lists and numbers. The college essay is one of the few places that allows a student to show their voice, share their goals and values, and provide a small glimpse into their life. That is why starting on the essay early is so important; it is a chance for the student to speak directly to a college admission office. 

When writing the essay, students should stay true to themselves, tell their story and share what is important to them. All of the self-exploration a student does early in their high school career manifests in the college essay.

In essence, the college admission process is a personal growth journey that opens students’ minds to possibilities and opportunities for their future. When parents reinforce that, it creates a healthier and less stressful environment than trying to accelerate to the end. Going through the personal growth journey and taking the time to learn along the way will lead to better outcomes for each student’s future. 

Alex Catalan and Julie DiRoma are co-directors of College Counseling at The Seven Hills School.

Make the Most of Your College Visit

Have your student come prepared with questions for the tour guide. Take it from us — We were once college tour guides, and when students ask a lot of questions, it makes the tour better for everyone. Your guide is there because they love talking about the school. 

Once the official tour is over, don’t be afraid to look around on your own. Many college tours no longer show classrooms, so check out an academic building so that your student can get a glimpse of the academic setting.