By Amanda Tennant, staff writer
While underclassmen anticipate the rest of the 2014-2015 school year, seniors are planning ahead by searching for their dream college or university to attend in the following school year. Once a dream school has been selected, students must then strategize on how to obtain that magi- cal acceptance letter from the school.
Within a sundry of possible methods, com- pleting and submitting a college application is among the most precise and unique.
College applications, “give admission officers an idea of who you are,” according to bigfuture. collegeboard.org.
Art Preuss, a counselor at Indian Trail High School and Academy, gives eager seniors advice on how to approach the college application pro- cess. He recommends seniors should have submitted their applications by Thanksgiving and, at the very latest, a week before Christmas vacation.
As per what to put in the college application, Preuss says to take a look at the college website that you are planning on applying to and see what their requirements are.
“[It] varies from college to college. Some want letters of recommendation, some do not,” said Preuss.
Ariana Voyles, a general studies senior, has followed this approach.
“Research the school. Get your name out there,” Voyles said.
Voyles herself has been working on her college applications since August and hopes to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 2015- 2016 school year.
Above all, Preuss says when applying for col- leges, always present yourself in the best way possible and put things in your application that set you apart from the rest.
“Whether you have any unique circumstances or if you have a passion for certain things,” Preuss said.
As seniors continue to pursue acceptance into their dream college, Voyles reflects on the impor- tance of this time period in her life.
“My decisions now will affect me and my future. It means a lot to me to go to Madison. Choosing to go there is really important.”