November 15th has passed, meaning that all early decision and early action applications are in for our senior class. However, the remaining stress varies amongst rams; some of us have over a dozen supplemental essays to write for our many colleges, while some of us are left with just a few. Moreover, many seniors have misgivings about their chances of getting into their top schools. To get a better idea of this great class’ overall feelings, I interviewed a small sample of seniors.
Jack Sicat, a top scholar and truly enigmatic figure, is applying to a mystery school, which he refuses to reveal. When asked about how he is feeling about the process, Sicat replied, “Tired. I have my interview next week (Sunday, November 20th). With my top-choice, I’m not really stressed because you may get in you may not get in; it’s like, imagine you’re a penny in this bowl of pennies, and there’s this vending machine right there, and there’s like a slot for the pennies, and the college admissions board takes that bowl and just throws it at that slot. And if you’re that lucky one, you get into the vending machine.” Sicat, a true master of figurative language, creates a metaphor that excellently illustrates the unpredictability of selective schools.
Mathew Yeager, an infamously studious Pole, is applying early decision to Brown University. When asked whether he’s more or less stressed now that ED/EA applications are in, he said, “I think I’m feeling more stressed, because I have more essays to write, like sixteen essays.” Sicat then interjects, asking, “Why are you applying to so many if you can only attend one?” Yeager responds, angrily saying, “Sicat, that’s like asking, ‘Why do you have two eyes if you only need one?’” Yeager represents a sizable portion of seniors who are applying to a ridiculous number of schools to broaden their options.
Brendan Milton, the Irish Genius, is applying restrictive early action to the University of Notre Dame. I asked him what he thought of the process now that the more important applications are in. He replied, “A little stressed, Noder Daym (he can’t pronounce it correctly: “no-truh daam”) is quite selective.” Milton, a quiet ne’er-do-well, refused to elaborate further.
Personally, I am still incredibly stressed; the pressure to perform during this first semester is immense. My top choices are just as unforgiving as the aforementioned schools; the grades and test scores needed for even the most infinitesimal chance of acceptance are high enough to induce hypertension. The great volume of assessments and assignments combined with the great volume of supplemental essays that remain contribute to the tension of the first semester. Overall, it seems that many of us are still toiling through this slow, grueling process.