Pauline - Seattle University - Class of 2012

My five older siblings had very different college admissions experiences than my own. They were very relaxed about it. Like them, I assumed I would apply to a few colleges, get admitted, and choose one. But college admission is a lot tougher now. I was lucky I liked Seattle University. It was the only college that admitted me!

Grades vs. scores

As a college applicant, I presented a mixed picture. I'm passionate about journalism. I was editor in chief of my school newspaper, I had an internship with a national magazine, and I run my own web magazine. I also love speech and debate. I have good SAT scores, and I was named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. I hoped those scores might balance out the less attractive parts of my application. My transcript didn't show much of an upward trend. I had a few dismal semesters in math. Looking back, I see that this meant I did not have much, if any, chance at schools like Brandeis and Northwestern.

Coming up with my short list

Researching colleges was like a hobby to me. I met with admissions reps who visited my high school. I looked at college brochures and e-mails. I went to a lot of college fairs. As sophomore and junior year went on, I learned more about colleges and what I wanted. I thought about what I most valued or disliked from my high school experience and whether or not I wanted to have those things in college. I came up with must-haves: social consciousness, journalism majors, access to a city, and a co-ed student body.

I eventually developed a short list of schools where I could truly see myself. I included one school at which I was likely to be accepted. I also had in mind a safe in-state public school to which I was willing to apply if I didn't get accepted anywhere else.

I get lucky

I was admitted early to Seattle University. At first, I was hesitant. I didn't think it would be academically rigorous enough, and I thought it might be too similar to my Jesuit high school. But after visiting, all of those notions were proven wrong. The professors and students were academically impressive. It attracts a much more diverse group of students than my high school (and many colleges). The school is committed to Jesuit values like social justice and self-reflection that I find important. And SU is right smack in the middle of a city that stole my heart. Long story short, SU fits my "must-haves" perfectly. It was very important for me to find a place that doesn't just emphasize academics but education of the whole person.

My ups and downs

I wish I hadn't been so "in the dark." My counseling department prepared us to be great candidates—but this year demanded more than "great." After submitting my application, I found out Northwestern and every other school were seeing record numbers of applications this year. I suppose I was blindsided, as were many of my friends.

What I learned

I should have done more research and applied to a couple more schools representing a wider range of difficulty. The schools I chose were among the most selective. I also should have been more careful about my essay and showed it to more teachers. I wasn't afraid to take risks with my essays, which could have been a good or a bad thing.

The money factor

My Seattle University scholarship covers about half of my costs. The rest is covered by loans and family contributions.