Applying to college can be one of the most exciting yet stressful experiences in a student’s life. For Sukhi and Lizbeth, two high-achieving students, the college application journey was a mix of hard work, self-reflection, and embracing the unknown.To learn more about their process, I discussed with them to ask about their application experiences,
Sukhmani
What is a piece of advice you would give to a student who is applying soon?
“Try to tune out all the noise from teachers, friends, TikTok, Reddit, and random people. Navigating the college application journey can be tough, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the contradicting advice. It’s hard, but you just have to trust yourself and stay focused. Don’t get wrapped up in everything happening around you—just exist and follow your own path.”
What was the scariest moment in your college application journey?
“The scariest moment was 30 minutes before opening my application decisions. I had no idea what would happen, and I kept trying to reassure myself that no matter what the decision was, I would still be the same person. It felt like a make-or-break moment that would determine where I would be for the next four years or whether I’d be spending winter break writing a bunch of essays. I’m so glad it worked out, but it was terrifying.”
How did you balance outside expectations and being true to yourself during this application cycle?
“I spent the summer reflecting on what I truly wanted from college. In the first few years, I was focused too much on prestige and the wrong things. I reprioritized and started looking for a place where I could genuinely fit in as a person. I approached the process with a mindset of growth, not trying to flaunt an acceptance or the prestige of the school. I was aware of the expectations from myself, my family, and others, but I realized that the people who love me will be proud of wherever I end up. The people who matter will always love me, no matter where I go.”
How did you decide to commit?
“I had the privilege of visiting Dartmouth’s campus through a program called Dartmouth Bound. There, I spoke with teachers and experienced campus life firsthand, which helped me make my decision. I also considered other colleges but asked myself where I would be happiest. Dartmouth felt right, even though there were things I wasn’t totally in love with. It was just a gut feeling that this was the place for me. I also think it’s important to take risks during the process—don’t be afraid to apply to schools even if you don’t feel like the perfect candidate. Don’t limit yourself to safety or target schools. You may exceed your expectations.”
Lizbeth
What is a piece of advice you would give to a student who is applying soon?
“Just apply. Don’t second-guess yourself. For Latino students especially, it’s not impossible to get into these institutions. Because of the circumstances and cultural norms in some Latino households and areas, self doubt tends to crawl into the confines of our headspace. Rely on your friends during this process; for upcoming juniors, you’ll be going through everything together, so lean on each other. You never know where things might take you.”
What was the scariest moment in your college application journey?
“The wait game—waiting to hear back—and submitting my application were the scariest moments. I wanted to submit the perfect application, and I kept overthinking about what would happen if I didn’t get in. I had to settle with the possibility that I might not get in and come to terms with that. I also didn’t know what I would write about for my personal statement, especially with the deadline looming just two weeks away. Eventually, I came up with a metaphor about playing a flute—each note representing a step in my journey that shaped who I am.”
How did you balance outside expectations and being true to yourself during this application cycle?
“There was a lot of FOMO and comparing myself to others. I kept my college list and stats a secret so that no one would compare me to them. Even when people asked, I would keep it to myself. I tended to overthink and procrastinate, focusing on everything but the application. I made sure to lock in and focus on other things, like binge-watching shows and doing internships, so I wasn’t solely focused on college applications.”
How did you decide to commit?
“At first, I didn’t want to apply for Early Decision (ED)—I thought it was crazy as a junior, especially because of the distance. However, after talking to my senior friends, who told me ED could help my chances, I reconsidered. I realized I needed to be surrounded by people who were focused on moving forward, and I knew that wasn’t going to happen in Texas. Staying in Texas would limit myself to a space I was comfortable with, but I knew what I needed was to challenge myself in order to grow. As I researched colleges up north, I grew more in love with the idea. I knew if I got in, I would accept in a heartbeat. The net price calculator also showed that it would be affordable for me. I realized I had to take the risk and go north.”
Whether it’s navigating the wait for decisions or deciding where to commit, Sukhi and Lizbeth prove that with hard work, self-reflection, and a little courage, success is within reach.
