Learn From College-Bound Students
Tackling college applications, on top of classes, work, sports and extracurriculars, certainly raises the excitement level senior year. And then there’s the suspense of waiting to get accepted and making a choice.
For an inside look at the process, U.S. News visited Floral Park Memorial High School on Long Island, New York, in April to see how several seniors got it all done — and got in. With dozens of colleges in nearby New York City, a number have headed for the Big Apple, while others answered a craving for a change of scenery.
The public school’s 1,400-student population is diverse: 55 percent white, 14 percent Hispanic, 17 percent Asian and 14 percent African-American. Ninety-eight percent of students continue their education at two- or four-year colleges. Floral Park offers 17 Advanced Placement courses and, unlike many schools, measures GPA on a scale of 100 versus 4.0.
Here, eight seniors share secrets for success — and what they’d tackle differently if given a do-over.
Ashish James
Sometimes students feel the pull of a calling. James knew he wanted to study nursing to honor his older brother, an aspiring nurse, who passed away in a car accident in 2011.
Originally James considered exploring New York state for school, maybe heading north to the College at Brockport–SUNY; in the end, he realized he couldn’t part with Long Island’s proximity to New York City — a place he says “has it all.” Once he’d decided to stay local, he focused on affordability and a good nursing program.
He applied to Molloy College and Adelphi University and was accepted on the spot to both schools during on-campus interviews in January. Satisfied, he didn’t apply elsewhere and decided Molloy was the best fit.
James aspires to work in an intensive care unit, given his strong interest in helping people needing immediate care. Next up? A possible master’s in nursing.
GPA: 83.80
SAT: 600 math, 560 evidence-based reading and writing
Extracurriculars: Football; The American Legion: Boys State, a selective military leadership program; Leo Club youth organization.
Interview tactic: “Just the truth.” He was transparent about who he is and why the school appealed.
Essay: Losing a brother “definitely changed me.” He explained how the loss motivated him to improve academically and socially in high school and to live out the nursing dreams his brother no longer could.
Stressor: Paying for school. Sorting out scholarships and financial aid was trickier than he imagined.
Do-over: Researching scholarships sooner and applying for more of them.
Advice: Have a support system. “Take breathers,” his best friend counseled when James got frustrated with the process.
Elizabeth Talero
For Talero, applying to schools was “a balancing act.” The daughter of Colombian immigrants with “traditional” family values, Talero juggled cooking, cleaning and helping at home with schoolwork, extracurriculars and college applications.
Her initial instinct was to get away from New York, but after visiting the University of Vermont on a trip for minority students, a dose of culture shock led her to explore schools closer to home. Scientifically inclined, Talero’s dream job is to work as a zoo veterinarian, treating exotic animals, especially reptiles and amphibians.
She earned acceptances at Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, Fordham University and SUNY–Oswego — all in New York — as well as the University of Vermont and the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. She was wait-listed at Barnard College and denied by Tufts University.
She weighed cost, programs offered, distance from home and diversity before choosing Macaulay Honors College. Also a talented artist, she hopes to tack on at least a minor in art — her favorite medium is colored pencil — in addition to her science studies.
GPA: 93.06
SAT/ACT: 540 math; 670 evidence-based reading and writing/32
Extracurriculars: President of Science Olympiad, silver and bronze medalist; president of Photo Club, vice president of National Art Honor Society, vice president of Drama Club, actor in the school musical; Girl Scout Gold Award winner; employed as a mother’s helper.
Winning combo: Extracurriculars paired with good grades are what she believes caught the attention of admissions officers. She hopes they “saw that I can take on the world.”
Essay: As a kid, Talero wondered why her brothers got to do things she didn’t in their traditional household, so she started acting and dressing like a boy herself. Her essay chronicled her transformation from a rebellious young girl to a woman who still thinks gender-specific norms are “dumb” but can love doing makeup as a way to express her art.
Bonus: She submitted an art portfolio to Barnard, Tufts and Macaulay Honors.
Good move: Staying overnight during campus visits. “Once you’re there that’s when it hits you.”
Cost: Macaulay Honors College is tuition-free. Her parents will help with room and board, but she plans to become a resident assistant to pitch in.
Helpful resources: Fastweb.com to search for scholarships and her guidance counselor.
Advice: “Space yourself out” doing applications. Procrastination clobbered some of her friends.
Sydnie Jaime
An art and design lover, Jaime felt at home when she visited the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Initially interested in studying photography, she narrowed her focus to advertising and communications design as her college search progressed.
Jaime got her applications in early, then took more time to complete accompanying art portfolios. Each portfolio included 10 to 12 pieces of her best photography and web design work.
In addition, Jaime stayed active in her community through PEARLS Club, a minority women’s leadership group at Floral Park Memorial. Her high school achievements and artistic talent won Jaime acceptances at every school she applied to: CUNY–City College, FIT, Farmingdale State College–SUNY, New York Institute of Technology, Temple University in Pennsylvania and Rider University in New Jersey.
She wanted a school with a community feel — and that was cost-friendly. FIT had both, not to mention ample opportunities to land art and design internships in the city. Jaime hopes to someday launch her own design business and thinks FIT can help her get there.
GPA: 87.71
SAT: 600 math; 570 evidence-based reading and writing
Extracurriculars: President of PEARLS Club, secretary of the Class Board, National Honor Society, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.
Essay: Finding friends as an introvert and gaining self-confidence though PEARLS Club. FIT required three additional essays and three art projects — on top of her portfolio — for the communications design major.
Smart move: Keeping a notebook of essay questions, deadlines and weekly to-do lists, helping her stay on track and manage her time wisely.
Regret: Not applying to more reach schools.
Hardest step: Pulling together her portfolio despite distractions. At the time, her family home was alive with relatives from Jamaica. “It was fun but stressful.”
Money: Financial aid from FIT and work-study will cover most of her $4,690 in-state tuition.
Cherry on top: Acceptance letters were “validation of years of hard work.”
Advice: “Work hard and stick to what your dreams are.” Be open to tips from those who have gone through the application process.
Dylan Slavin
A politics and debate enthusiast, Slavin envisions becoming a lawyer or politician. When not debating during high school, he quarterbacked the marching band as drum major, an activity that helped shape who he is today.
Come time to think about college, he visited several New York schools including Adelphi University, Long Island University and Farmingdale State College but sent applications to just four in-state top choices.
He was accepted at Nassau Community College and St. John’s University; wait-listed at Fordham; denied by New York University. Cost was his biggest concern.
He decided to start at Nassau Community College and then transfer to a more competitive school. This strategy will help him cut costs — he’s paying for college himself out of pocket — but still get a good education. He plans to major in English and minor in politics or economics.
GPA: 90.63
SAT: 550 math, 640 evidence-based reading and writing
Extracurriculars: Drum major of the marching band, jazz band, Music Honor Society, Battle of the Bands, waiting tables.
Essay: A personal reflection on how his parents’ decision to live near and take care of his grandparents gave him an appreciation for those who go out of their way to help others. The aspiring English major enjoyed the writing portions of his applications and thinks having a unique personal story helped him stand out.
Influencers: Teachers. One in seventh grade “ignited his passion” for politics. Recently, when he was struggling with the college decision, that same teacher told him “it’s not where you go to college, but what you make of it.” Those words gave him courage to start at community college.
Advice: If you’re invested in college, establish a good work ethic now. “Be thinking about your future and put in the 100 percent to get there.”
Luke deArmas
On top of being Floral Park Memorial’s top graduate, deArmas lent his time as a volunteer firefighter and played varsity soccer. He even helped lead the team to its first county championship his junior year.
His stellar grades and extracurricular involvement scored him entry to all nine schools he applied to, but Vanderbilt University was a top choice from the get-go. DeArmas knew the type of school he was looking for: a place with strong academic programs but not cutthroat and somewhere he could have fun, too.
He was accepted to Binghamton University–SUNY and Fordham University in New York; Tulane University in New Orleans; the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill; Clemson University and the University of South Carolina; Vanderbilt in Nashville; the University of Miami; and Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
Vanderbilt’s warm climate, strong computer science and engineering programs and generous financial aid package sealed the deal. “At other schools it was give-and-take, but Vanderbilt had everything,” he says. He’ll study computer engineering and is already considering grad school in the field.
GPA: 98.58
ACT: 33
Extracurriculars: Varsity soccer; editor-in-chief of The Shield school newspaper; National Honor Society; treasurer of Future Business Leaders of America; Relay For Life; The American Legion: Boys State, a selective military leadership program; volunteer firefighter.
Essay: “I wanted to take time to make it great.” He focused on how the discipline and communication skills needed as a firefighter prepared him for the demands of college.
Good move: He had all his apps done by mid-October for the early action deadlines, leaving more time to balance sports, school and volunteering.
College visits: He did them all junior year, freeing up time to focus on applications senior year.
Regret: Avoiding more competitive schools, maybe Ivy League. “But I didn’t want to be one of those kids who applied to all those schools.”
Resources: He used The Princeton Review, U.S. News’ college rankings and Niche.com for research, in addition to browsing school websites.
Advice: His guidance counselor suggested he check the flexibility of programs in case he decides to switch majors.
Jacqueline Tam
Tam was as diligent in her college search as she was in her schoolwork and extracurriculars throughout high school. She started visiting schools her junior year and took notes on her smartphone to remember the differences in curriculums and activities offered.
Not only a talented viola and volleyball player, Tam worked her way up to leadership positions in several clubs, her favorite being president of the school chamber orchestra.
Drawn to colder climates, she applied to 11 Northeast schools and was accepted at Boston University and Northeastern University, also in Boston; New York University, Stony Brook University–SUNY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She was wait-listed at Williams College in Massachusetts and Cornell University in New York; denied by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University in Boston.
Her decision came down to scholarship money and program quality. Ultimately, Northeastern University‘s co-op program and urban campus swayed her. She’ll attend its College of Computer and Information Science, pursuing a combined computer science and mathematics degree.
GPA: 97.10
SAT: 800 math, 700 evidence-based reading and writing
Extracurriculars: President of chamber orchestra, president of Mathletes, principal violist in district orchestra, captain of varsity volleyball team, treasurer of National Honor Society, JV softball, Chess Club, teaching yo-yo to kids at a Chinese school.
Interviews: Tam jumped at every school interview opportunity to learn more about each campus and get advice.
Regrets: Rushing the essays. She ended up writing about her experience in orchestra, a club where she felt she belonged and could mentor younger musicians.
Lifeline: Her parents. They guided her through the process and made sure she had her apps in early. Ultimately, they left the decision up to her.
Most fun: “Going on tours and exploring college campuses. Some were tucked away in parts of the city you wouldn’t normally go.”
Advice: Get involved in the high school community and clubs. “It’s the best way to ensure you get good recommendation letters.”
Emmanuel Betancourth
Resilience is what Betancourth says got him to college. His parents divorced when he was young, and the recession was hard on his family.
His self-esteem was sagging and he felt like an outsider, he says, until he joined the high school football team. Not only was he smiling in the hallways, but he was starting to consider college.
November of senior year, he got serious about his applications — a timeline he admits was last-minute and stressful. Affordability, solid computer and information technology programs, outdoorsy surroundings and a New York ZIP code were his must-haves.
He was accepted to SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Marist College and Rochester Institute of Technology but was denied by Binghamton University–SUNY. Betancourth chose RIT after loving the vibe at accepted-students day.
“People were having fun … it just felt like a college experience,” he says. The modern buildings, F1 car club and potential internship opportunities he could score impressed him. His goal? Learning the ropes of network and data administration, while picking up computer coding skills at the tech school.
GPA: 88.78
SAT: 600 math; 580 evidence-based reading and writing
Extracurriculars: Varsity football. “Even if you don’t have much in common with people, you can rally around the football.”
Essay: Transformation-themed. “I did a 180” after joining the football team.
Big help: Tapping professors at schools and programs of interest. Hearing them talk about opportunities in computing security, video games and software engineering enticed him.
Cost: “Definitely a big issue.” Financial aid will cover most of the $54,758 price tag for tuition and room and board.
Sleuth work: He browsed Facebook profiles of current students to get an inside scoop on campus life. On visits, he snagged school newspapers to see what students were talking about.
Best part: Seeing campuses in action.
Advice: “Be open to trying something new, and if cost is an issue, get a job to start saving money now.”
Dayna Cardalena
Cardalena focused on schools with nursing programs from day one. After her mother died of breast cancer in 2013, she moved in with her aunt and uncle, five siblings and two cousins; come application time, she craved the “space” of leaving New York for college.
The loss fortified her desire to succeed, motivating her to enroll in AP classes and stay involved in extracurriculars. She wanted admissions reviewers to see her dedication and involvement in spite of her tough situation. She sent applications to 11 nursing and pharmacy schools — completing them all by the Nov. 1 early action deadline.
She was welcomed by St. John’s University’s pharmacy program in New York, and the nursing programs at Quinnipiac University and Sacred Heart University in Connecticut; Adelphi University and Pace University–Pleasantville in New York; James Madison University in Virginia; and the University of New Hampshire.
At the University of Kentucky and the University of Rhode Island, she was accepted but not into nursing. She was denied by the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and Fairfield University in Connecticut. The application process opened her eyes to possibilities beyond nursing, and she is now considering education or social work.
After visiting a cousin at JMU, she fell in love with the warmer climate and liked that she could pursue nursing or do other things if she changed her mind.
GPA: 90.18
SAT/ACT: 670 math; 420 evidence-based reading and writing/20
Extracurriculars: Line captain of the kickline team, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, District Sports Night.
Essay: She connected key principles of kickline — smile, pointed toes, straight posture, strong connections — to being strong in life through tough times.
Good move: Being unafraid to ask teachers for extra help when needed. Forming those connections helped her when it came time to secure recommendation letters and application assistance.
Bold choice: She chose JMU despite her family wanting her to stay close.
Regret: Applying almost exclusively to nursing schools.
Advice: Take guidance with a grain of salt. A counselor dashed her interest in pharmacy after doubting she’d get into any programs. Since St. John’s pharmacy program did accept her, she wishes she had applied to more.
Get More Advice About Applying to College
This story is excerpted from the U.S. News “Best Colleges 2018” guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
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How 8 High School Seniors Got Accepted to College originally appeared on usnews.com
