The college application process can be daunting for seniors, but at TCS with Dina, the college counselor, students find clarity, confidence, and the best fit for their future.

Dina plays a vital part in helping students from the start of the application process to the finish. She assists students in locating universities that share their ideals and aspirations. Here is a look at how US college applications are going for students who filed for Early Decision before the initial application deadline on November 1, 2024. 

“She guided me through every step, from researching schools to submitting applications, making the process feel more manageable.” Antonia Velez, senior, said. 

Dina insists that fit, not prestige, should be the primary consideration when selecting a college. She advises students to focus on the academic offerings, school culture, and extracurricular activities that will make college genuinely fulfilling rather than rankings and name recognition.

“To choose a college based on fit rather than prestige—what feels right for me, not just what looks good on paper. One advice she gave me was to choose a college based on fit rather than prestige, what feels right for me, not just what looks good on paper,” Velez said.

Taking into account students long-term objectives, academic interests, and personal preferences, college counselors assist students in narrowing down their college options. This method gives kids the freedom to select the right university that fits with their values and gives them the confidence they need to succeed in college.

“At first, I aimed for big, well-known schools, but after research and guidance from my counselor, I added colleges that better suited my academic and personal needs,” Joaquin Jaramillo, senior, said. 

Composing essays and personal statements is one of the most difficult parts of the application process. These components are necessary to highlight a student’s character, background, and goals. Students find it difficult to articulate themselves in a way that meets admissions committee requirements. Proficiency in assisting students with this process enables them to confidently and effectively express their ideas, making their personal statements stand out.

“I focused on a meaningful personal experience and went through several drafts with feedback from my counselor to make it as strong as possible,” Jaramillo mentioned. 

Counselors offer coping mechanisms for anxiety and uncertainty, acknowledging that the college application process is an emotional journey as much as a material submission procedure. A person’s perspective should be different from their family’s in order to alleviate stress and promote resilience, thereby equipping pupils for the intricacies of upcoming obstacles in both their academic and personal lives.

“I have felt very nervous and uncertain because I don’t know what to do. I always saw myself living in Madrid, and now I’m seeing more of myself studying in Northeastern, but I’m not really sure about it.” Carla Echavarria, senior, said. 

Dina is an illustration of the kind of intellectual and emotional support that the school offers. She encourages kids to explore their goals, desires, and worries by fostering a secure environment where they feel heard and encouraged through one-on-one interactions. She assists kids in navigating the unknowns and inevitable highs and lows of their emotions that accompany the college application process.

“The advice that I would give future seniors is to make the college essay and supplements with a lot of time before, this will help you think about what you’re doing and apply to a lot of universities because you’re not always going to get the result that you want. So try to apply to a lot of universities and take early action, because this is a way that you’ll get more easily in and it’s going to be less stressful during the year because you’re going to have fewer things to do.” Echavarria said.