College Application Live Blog

Class of 2015. High School senior. Killin it daily...well...trying to.

[collegeapp-freakout]

Hello! I hope you still look at this blog from time to time... It's the 4th (??) week of my senior year, and I'm not going to lie about having my heart set on Barnard (though my parents warned me about falling in love with a school). I'd like a bit of advice! My school is VERY small, and being an arts and history person, I am unable to take any math/science APs.... I'm wondering how bad that will look. Also, what can I do to make myself a better candidate? Thank you! ✨✨😊

I came from a tiny school too and never took any APs so you’re totally fine as long as you take a rigorous course load. 

As for making yourself a better candidate, just do what you love and what you’re good at and communicate your passions. It’s super important to go into college with a focus on what makes you happy instead of what might get you a great job or a better resume. 

Real Talk: I’m currently drowning in work that I literally don’t give a shit about because I thought I wanted to “save the world” by being a doctor. I thought it would be best to follow a career path that was black and white, that would guarantee me a job. I now realize that I just want to write and read and perform poetry and talk about the world. 

Don’t be me. Don’t worry about being a good candidate. Worry about being mentally healthy and stable (things I am not at this moment). Sorry about the rant. I hope I answered your question. 

[collegeapp-freakout]

so my mom keeps on signing me up for these college app writing workshops, and as I am working towards my final draft I realized that I really hate what I'm writing. However, I don't want to tell the app person or my mom because I'm pretty far in the game and I feel guilty not using the essays after all the money she has spent on this for me.... any advice????

Ouch that’s a tough situation. I had a similar issue where I worked through 3 or 4 drafts of my common app essay in my post-high school planning class and ended up scrapping them all in favor of a completely new topic, much to the dismay of my teacher. 

My advice would be to be honest with your mom and your teacher. Let them know that you want to change direction but emphasize all the things you’ve learned through the classes about format and content. Show that the classes and money spent weren’t in vain. You know what goes into an awesome essay and want to use your new-found knowledge in the best way possible.

In the end, if it comes to it, you can always write your final essay in secret and submit it without telling anyone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[collegeapp-freakout]

Hey so I'm not going to my first choice for money reasons and I'm still not okay with it like I'm so upset over it and I know it's stupid but I don't really want to go to my 2nd choice anymore and would rather stay home and go to school around here but my fam gets mad whenever I tell them that

I’m a little confused because it’s almost August so I don’t know how much of a choice you really have? I don’t know your situation but if you are already enrolled in a school, I think you should stick with that. Take things as they come and have an open mind about everything. 

If you aren’t enrolled anywhere, maybe think about working for a year. Show your family that you want to be in charge of your own life and that you’re responsible enough to do that. Maybe they’ll be more inclined to give you the freedom to choose a school closer to home. 

I really don’t know man. Come off anon and give me more details and I’ll try to help as best I can. 

[collegeapp-freakout]

It’s Been Real:

FYI. Since I’ve graduated high school and gotten into college and put being an “appblr” behind me, I will not be using this blog very much in the future. I will, however, continue to answer questions that any of you may have about my life or about college admissions or about Barnard/NYC. 

Being an appblr was a great experience and I wish the best of luck to the Class of 2016! 

- Morgan 

[collegeapp-freakout]

what was the score that you got on your ACT? If that's not too personal to ask.

I took the test twice and got a 30 both times. 

[collegeapp-freakout]

Hey, Morgan. I didn't get into Harvard or Yale - my dream schools. I had a great GPA and a pretty good SAT/ACT (3.97, 2170, 33). Since I also didn't get wait-listed, I want to know your opinion on transferring schools. Should I go to Cornell, the other school I'm considering, and transfer later? Or should I wait for some of my other wait-lists to fluctuate? Take a year off? Or just suck it up and go to one of the schools that accepted me? To make myself clear, Yale and Harvard were life.

You have to make that decision based on who you are and what you envision your future to be. Maybe not getting into Harvard and Yale is a blessing. Maybe you should take a year off and see some part of the world, even if it’s in your own backyard. Maybe you should go to Cornell or one of the other schools you got into and fall in love with it. 

Personally, I don’t think your mindset going into this year should be “How many more months until I can transfer?” College admissions are stressful and biased and sometimes just come down to luck. I know I don’t want to have to go through all of that again this spring. The only advice I can give you is to stay present and appreciate the opportunities you already have in front of you. You have to decide for yourself what is right but don’t get stuck thinking that Harvard and Yale are the only places where you’ll flourish and be successful. I know I haven’t given you a definitive answer, but I’m not you and I don’t know what will make you the happiest. Good luck friend. 

[collegeapp-freakout]

Everyone is graduating and I have 600 pages of reading to do and a musical to perform in.

[collegeapp-freakout]

I just heard you got into Barnard!! That's so amazing! I wanted to either go to Barnard or go to Columbia University and study Law! That's never going to happen though, everyone tells me it's not going to happen and even if I managed to get in, it's too expensive. Ugh, it's my dream that will never be. Do you have any tips to get into either?

First off, never say never. Second (and others might disagree. I'm just going off of my own experience), the financial aid system at Barnard/Columbia is great. I come from a middle class family and we're paying very little for me to go to Barnard. We're paying way less than we would if I were to go to Pitt or Temple, my backup schools.There's no magical formula to get in, but if you work as hard as possible and then some and prove that you're passionate, they will take notice. It's going to be hard. Accept that, and go out there and kill it.

[collegeapp-freakout]

Wait you got into Columbia?!?! That's amazing! I'm applying there! Any tips?

I didn't technically get into Columbia. I got into Barnard College of Columbia University. Barnard has a different admissions department even though it's part of the same university. As for general advice though, just work harder than you think you can and unapologetically pursue your passions. It might sound hard but that's the point.

[collegeapp-freakout]

What I'm thankful for: - Mobile banking - Dried dates - My drivers license

[projectqueer]

Barnard Likely To Usher In Transgender Women

Women's colleges across the country are re-assessing how transgender women fit into their communities.

[katiescollegeblog]

Here it is – my gift to the class of 2015! (The slides are REALLY blurry because the file size is so big, and I’m sorry for that, but it’s the thought that counts??) I have had the most incredible time watching you all go through your college application journeys. You are some of the most witty, kind, and compassionate people I have even known. Years from now, when I think about appblr, I won’t remember the rejections or the waitlists or the financial aid packages. I will remember the people I met. You’ve all touched my life more than you will ever realize. Congrats; you made it! I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Here’s to the Appblr Class of 2015:

Alyssa – American University // Annie – Washington University in St. Louis // Ashley – University of Vermont // Camille – University of Iowa // Cara – Dartmouth University // Cara – Georgetown University // Caroline – Hamilton College // Cat – Harvard University // Danielle – The University of Scranton // Dominique – The University of California, Irvine // Elin – Princeton University // Emily – Grinnell College // Hayley – American University // Helen – Duke University // Jade – Harvard University // Jaillin – Clark Atlanta University // Jay – University of California, Los Angeles // Jennifer – Barnard College // Jill – University of Rutgers, New Brunswick // Kate – The College of New Jersey // Kelly – Emory University // Lauren – The University of Rochester // Maddie – New York University // Maggie – Brown University // Maya – Carleton College // Michelle – University of Notre Dame // Michelle – University of North Texas // Michelle – Cornell University // Morgan – Barnard College // Morz - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology // Nina – Dartmouth University // Rainbow – Harvard University // Ramee – Rice University // Sarah – Tulane University // Sophia – Georgetown University // Sophie – Brandeis University // Trina – Southern Methodist University // Wolfie – Wellesley College // Xavier – Stanford University

[collegeapp-freakout]

There was so much love throughout my senior class last night. Prom was so positive and uplifting. I never though I'd be able to say that.

[sittingquietly]

Prom was so nice

[neornithes]

seriously, fuck the false dichotomy between Science and The Arts. like capital-S Science isn’t an art that requires creativity, perseverance, patience, and skilled observation. like The Arts don’t require rigor, discipline, practice, and attention to detail. like both aren’t cultural structures that stand on foundations of sexist, racist, capitalist hierarchy. like they both can’t be used for purposes of enrichment and revolution. i am so fucking over this idea of presenting science and art as opposites, when they have so much more in common than people think.

[collegeapp-freakout]

Lost my wallet. Applied for a $27 replacement drivers license online. Found my wallet.

[collegeapp-freakout]

But like, fuck allergies.