SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Based on the college application cycle between fall and spring, Silver Creek’s seniors applying to California public institutions will have to submit their college applications soon; the deadline set at Dec. 2.

High school is an opportunity to think about your future. If you plan on going to college it is advised to take your junior year seriously because it’s the year that colleges look at the most since it’s the most recent grade. They look at your transcripts, clubs, AP classes and your electives. Therefore you should have an idea where you would like to go and put in all your best effort into your work. It is important to be sensible about your actions during junior year especially if you have a college you would like to attend.

In spite of that, applicants also need to consider different factors of the school such as costs, living, and competitiveness. Students have the freedom to choose whether they want to further their education or not. However, college is a great way to open new doors to discover new interests. Some of the most popular colleges to apply to are the California State Universities (CSU) and the popular University of California (UC) institutions. 

It’s important for seniors to make their decision carefully and thoughtfully because they will be spending the next four years of their lives at their chosen school. Before deciding on what school they’ll be attending, seniors are expected to fill out applications to those schools to see if they qualify for that school. And if applying to a private school or UC, they’re required to write short essay-like responses for admission officers to get to know the student’s character. It is also advisable to be mindful of the upcoming deadlines for the schools you apply to, like the UC and CSU’s that are coming up around December.

Olivia Ivey, a Silver Creek High senior, advises the upcoming seniors to also be  “involved in school activities because they help especially if you want to get into university.”

Also adding, to “do dual enrollment if you think you can take that workload. Which is taking college classes in high school and getting credit for college and it’s cheaper,” Ivey said. 

Applicants can also get help with applying by taking a class called Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum  (ERWC) at Silver Creek or asking counselors. Ivey says some of the college application questions may ask you for a time you went through hardship—-how and have you overcome it and use it towards the people around you and what changes have you made in your community. 

Dominque Quintana, another senior, shared that the application process can also get stressful because of the different portals you have to use, with each one requiring summitions of documents like personal essays and letters of recommendations. 

To manage her stress, Quintana makes a list of her priorities of “what deadlines I have to meet and have an idea of exactly what I am looking for when applying to colleges.” She recommends applying to the right schools for your major. As well as apply to a few other schools so you don’t regret it. 

For me, personally checking in with my teachers has helped me keep track of what assignments are due and get clarification on what requirements are needed. Helping me have a better understanding for what the assignment is supposed to be and to receive a better grade.

There are a few options when it comes to a senior’s future if they aren’t sure what they want to do. There’s community college,  trade school, vocational training, a gap year or starting work after high school. At the end of the day, it’s your future and to do what feels best for you. Observing all the past seniors has taught me, a junior, the different aspects of the college application process that I will definitely take in consideration during my next and last year in high school.