Mariah Lewis
“I learned how to talk about myself and really promote what I have been doing during high school.”
College Attending
SUNY Oneonta
As you began the college process, what were you looking for in a college and what were your initial feelings towards the process?
At first I was really apprehensive about the process. My parents and I hadn't really been through this before and I didn't know what to expect. I knew I was looking for a medium-sized school in a rural area or small town and a good education program. I wanted a school within New York or the east coast.
What roles did faculty members and/or the college counselor play in the college process?
I had never heard of Oneonta before I started the process and I learned about it from the college counselor and became interested. The counselor also talked to Oneonta for me and let them know it was my first choice. Teachers wrote recommendations for me and other teachers looked over my essay and helped out with preparing it.
How did you make the decision on which college you wanted to attend?
I narrowed it down to the top three choices and I visited all of them and went on campus tours. I read up on them online and went to some open houses. Oneonta was the only school I felt a connection to and could visualize myself there. After learning about them through the visits and online and then considering the costs and scholarships, I decided on Oneonta. The college visits are really important because you get to see the campus and dorms, hear directly from students about clubs, etc.
Looking back, what did you learn about yourself through the college process?
I learned how to talk about myself and really promote what I have been doing during high school. I learned how to write a short but meaningful essay. I built the essay up in my mind before writing it. It was a challenge to put so much meaning into a short essay. It really needed to be thought out beforehand.
Do you have any advice for students going through the college process?
Apply early admission to as many schools as you can. I was done with the college process before many students had heard back from any of their schools. It makes it easier to see all of your options before you and analyze your decision. It also gives you more time to go back and visit places and gives you more time to decide. Some of my peers had to make rush decisions. In terms of the essay, you should think about the essay and the topic you want to choose. You want to pick something that shows your character. Make sure to ask teachers for a recommendation early since they get overwhelmed with requests. If you ask early, you give them more time to think about what they want to write and it turns out better. Apply to scholarships if you can.
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