As winter becomes spring, college applications become college decisions. What started as a series of conversations about the faraway idea of college is now consuming the minds of the senior class.
With the days of the 2025- 2026 school year quickly dwindling, Maryvale seniors are vastly overwhelmed with the life-altering decisions of their college choice. The pressure to choose the “right” school can make this time feel more stressful than exciting.
School size, social scene, sorority life, and geography heavily impact the initial list of colleges each student makes. Popular schools include the University of Alabama, James Madison University, and the University of Maryland, College Park.
However, for senior Sadira Mirjafary, her journey began with realizing she wanted something a little different from many of her peers. Growing up in and around Baltimore City, Mirjafary was always in tune and felt most comfortable in an urban setting, so for her, Chicago or New York was undeniably the best place. Both cities served as a second home to her, as she had grown up in the arts community that flourishes in these cities.
“I feel more comfortable in the city…in this small town I feel very lonely, and…I don’t like to hear myself think too much. I need to be around a lot of people and have a lot of things going on,” stated Mirjafary on why an urban college is the place for her.
Mirjafary applied to 11 schools, ranging from small in-state schools such as McDaniel College to bigger city schools, including Fordham. However, Loyola University of Chicago and Marist University are head-to-head as her top spots for the next four.
Conversely, senior Kaya Sherman kept her options narrow, only applying to two schools: Meredith College in North Carolina and Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she is going for Business of beauty and fragrance. When applying for schools, Sherman wanted a strong arts school and a place far enough away to “branch out.”
Although she did not have to write any supplements, Sherman found writing the Common App essay to be the most difficult aspect of her process: “I got an idea that was really good, but then it took so long to actually figure out how to write all of that.” For her, what helped her the most were the Common App workshops hosted by the college counselors. These workshops were vital in helping Sherman start her essay.
Sherman’s advice for future college applicants is not to stress about the process because college applications are not “as bad as everyone makes it seem.”
Some students decided on their school before their senior year. Last year, Heidi Dawn committed to Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland for lacrosse. For her, making the decision of where to go as a junior was the most difficult part. But after listening to her coach’s advice to “stick to your gut,” she knows she made the best choice for her.
Alongside the seniors who have already committed, there are many who are still anxiously waiting for decisions and have not chosen where they will go. Alyssa Linden, currently undecided, is asking herself, “Could I picture myself living here permanently?” when making her decision, between her schools, with some of her most notable being the University of Maryland, College Park, Loyola University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University.
The most difficult part for Linden was making sure she submitted everything, especially her financial aid, properly. She also struggled to write her Common App essay, but received help from her guidance counselor to ensure she connected it back to the main point.
Her advice is to make sure “you’re looking at all of the aspects of a college, not just the academics, but also the people and the campus.” She says that you should find a place “that makes it feel like home to you.”
Meanwhile, Maleah Johnson is elated to attend college at Morgan State University in Baltimore. She chose Morgan out of three enticing options, namely for its physical therapy program. Johnson commented on the difficulty of college applications, saying that these challenges were mitigated by the support Maryvale offers for college essays and the general admissions process.
According to Johnson, the trick is to apply to multiple schools and to stay on top of grades. Contrary to popular belief, grades do matter late into the year. Colleges still have time to see how you either flourish or fail, so don’t let yourself slack in those vital last months.
While students such as Mirjafary and Sherman are on the frontlines of what college admissions officers see, Maryvale’s college counselors, including Kimberly Donoghue, are the backbone of the success of the students. In an interview, Donoghue talked about key points in the college admissions process and emphasized the most important of all: “I just want students to keep an open mind and to realize it’s going to be ok.”
She recommends looking at platforms such as BigFuture and Naviance when making your college list, which give general information about any school. Donoghue also recommends using the NetPrice calculator found on each school’s website to understand how much it will cost to attend.
When it comes to social media, Donoghue sees it as “a blessing and a curse.” On one hand, schools are able to post their content online and provide virtual programs to help students unable to visit the school learn what the campus is like.
On the other hand, she believes that there is “almost too much information” found online. Within these websites, there are thousands of people who got into elite schools and are influencing students on where they should apply. These online users often set unrealistic expectations of what a “perfect application” is and deem certain schools better than others.
Donoghue believes students should not rely on the distorted reality presented by social media sites: “what’s good for somebody else might not be perfect for you.” In reality, there is no “magic formula” that provides what the ideal student should emulate. On an application, students should present their authentic selves that highlight their enthusiasm for the school they are applying to.
The college application process is not as intimidating as it is made out to be. These universities are not out for vengeance. Donoghue states that the schools “want you there too” and try their best to make space for each student.
By working with the college counselors, students can lean on them whenever they need help with essays or financial aid. In the end, Donoghue believes that you’ll know when a school is “a good fit for you.”
