College Guidance–from one of my kids
The college application process is widely represented to be fraught with tears, uncertainty, and mental breakdowns. But, dear reader, if that’s how you feel, then you’re doing it wrong. Or you didn’t have Sandra Clifton to help you out.
When writing college applications, it’s easy to fall into the pompous, I’ve-done-so-much-please-think-it’s-impressive voice. There’s also the my-life-is-hard-can’t-you-relate voice. Your true voice isn’t coming out. Sandra’s there to help you with that; when she read my essays, I was ceaselessly frustrated in my attempts to sound smart or superior. It’s not about that. A school will accept you if you’re right. Admissions counselors were students of that college, so they understand the kind of person who’s meant to be there. Your essay may sound intelligent and academic and eudemonistic and all the other smart words you can think of, but that might not be you. Write about something that makes you happy, or something that makes you sad, or something that means everything to you but no one else understands why. Your college essay is supposed to represent where you were in life at that point. Don’t you want to go back to read it and know? Some girl ranting about big changes and academic devotion won’t be familiar to you.
College applications are going to stress you out. I’m sorry, but there’s no way around it. Sandra understands this fact, and she will always have a snack or a hug to give. It’s difficult to sound like yourself when you’re worried, so try to relax. I suggest doing some writing with Sandra, because you should be perfectly at ease in the Clifton Corner.
My last piece of advice is don’t lie to yourself. I know you want to get a lot of acceptance letters to boost your ego, but don’t take on more than you can manage. If you hate snow and the liberal arts, do you really expect to get into Macalester? If you can’t stand small towns or writers, are you really going to go to Kenyon? Apply to schools that mean something to you, that you could see yourself caring about after your four years are done. It would be ridiculous not to give yourself some choice, but too much will overwhelm you when it’s time to send in your letter of intention. This is again where Sandra can help. You can talk with her about all your schools and she’ll ask the perfect questions to help you figure out if that’s a good place to apply.
Please, please don’t freak out about college. You will end up at the “right” school, no matter how badly you convince yourself everything will be. Instead of freaking yourself out, try to take a breather with Sandra and realize what’s most important. You.
-Julia Rittenberg, Freshman at University of Chicago
