It wasn’t until my junior year that I realized I needed a plan after graduating high school – I always knew I wanted to go to college and that’s what my parents encouraged, but I didn’t know what the process entailed. I had many setbacks and feelings of discouragement as I embarked on my journey to college, but nevertheless, I persevered and you can too!
The first obstacle I went through was finding a way to pay for college. I knew my family couldn’t afford to send me to a school that cost tens of thousands of dollars, and I wasn’t ready to take out those kind of loans. I had heard about QuestBridge, an organization that helps first-generation-low-income students get into top-tier colleges with a full ride. There, my inquiry began, and I soon realized that I needed to narrow my search of schools to ones that met a my full financial aid need. The caveat here was that most of these colleges were highly selective and soon I began to doubt my abilities to get in.
Unfortunately, I applied to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars program and was rejected (while I wasn’t accepted I highly recommend applying to QuestBridge; their website is a great resource and their foundation is amazing) and I began to lose hope. Slowly, I started comparing myself to other students, seeing that their stats and extracurriculars were flawless. Truthfully, I had some grades on my transcript that weren’t representative of the student I was by the end of my senior year and I felt like my extracurriculars weren’t as strong. Fret not, thankfully the college application process is holistic, as they take into account your background and essays are a great way to explain and demonstrate your potential. I used the additional information section to expand on my circumstances, and the essays to highlight my growth and goals. #1 tip? Take advantage of the spaces you get to show off your writing! It can go a long way.
While I got rejected from several colleges and it was disheartening, I genuinely learned that rejection is redirection. I am so glad that I was given a spot in WashU’s class of 2025 because it genuinely changed my life trajectory. I am now able to attend college on a merit and financial aid scholarship, without having to worry so much about the financial burden. Apart from that, WashU has given me so many opportunities beyond education, that have alleviated so many stressors that come with becoming a professional.
For those submitting applications for the upcoming regular decision deadline, you got this! It can be such an extraneous process at times but remember you are much more than grades and extracurriculars, you are a mosaic of spectacular things.
– Catherine <3