As the college admissions process becomes more selective, Ransom Everglades students have felt increasing pressures to excel to boost their chances of acceptance. Many feel that they cannot go a day without being questioned about college or having it brought up. One overarching question tends to linger in their heads: “How do I make myself stand out?”
With so many changes in the college counseling department, students want to have a clear understanding of this process amidst the chaos. Although there is no easy way to get through the college admissions process, advice and tips from seniors and the college counseling department can help.
In the 2021-2022 school year, RE faced a difficult challenge when several college counselors left abruptly. The Class of 2023 became overwhelmed with questions about what the process would look like when it was time for them to apply to college in the fall. Since then, however, the school has made several ambitious changes in an effort to support students more comprehensively—and earlier in their school careers. The changes began with the hiring of Mr. Jason Locke, the Executive Director of College Counseling, and Mr. Patrick Tassoni, the new Director of College Counseling. Since then, RE has been able to recruit eight new college counselors, including an Essay Writing Specialist, Dr. Christina Iglesias, who will support students with essays specifically.
Many students have questioned whether colleges and universities are aware of RE’s educational philosophy and competitive environment. The answer to this question is yes, according to Mr. Locke. “Ransom Everglades has an excellent reputation among national colleges and universities,” he said, adding that “we will further promote RE’s signature programs and distinctive courses through new communications initiatives.”
“Elevating each RE student’s unique story in the college admissions process is another way we convey this message,” he continued. “The success of our alumni in colleges and universities across the United States, as well as internationally, also confirms Ransom Everglades’ reputation as an academic powerhouse.”
With decisions finally in and the process coming to a close, RE seniors have thought a lot about what they could have done to make this process easier—or what they would have liked to have known when entering this time of their life. So what advice do they have for those just embarking on the process? “I’d say my biggest tip is to start early,” said Laura Teofilo ’23, who was accepted through Early Decision to New York University. “Taking advantage of the summer to draft those essays is very helpful, because once you start your senior year, you obviously want to have those experiences with your friends and take full advantage of the year.”
Teofilo went on to say that time management is the key to staying on top of this process. If you are a procrastinator, it’s time to break the cycle. For Nicolas Maynulet ’23, who is attending Yale in the fall, the key is to “really try to stay organized. Keep all your college deadlines and essays together in an accessible space, so you can easily view them.”
Current seniors also recommended that juniors spend time getting to know themselves—since, after all, they’ll have to do a lot of talking about themselves on applications. Lily Landman ’23, who was also accepted to New York University through Early Decision, suggested keeping a journal and writing ideas and thoughts about the process daily. “Keeping a journal can be a great way to get to know yourself and track key events in your life that you might want to share in the future,” she said.
According to seniors and college counselors, showing interest is an important aspect of the college admissions process that tends to be forgotten. Erika Siblesz ’23, who got accepted to University of Michigan through early action said, “If you are truly interested in a school, show them that you want to go there, send emails to your assigned admissions officer and tell them you are interested. It helps.”
Above all, seniors emphasized how important it is to reframe the process and reconsider what counts as “good.” Many students have noticed that there is a common misconception at RE that the schools that are highly ranked are the only “good” schools. “When someone tells me they want to go to any Ivy League school, like Harvard, and I ask why, they usually do not have any other reason other than that it’s an Ivy League school,” said Bryanna Arrastia ’24. Students measure their own self-worth in a similarly narrow way, feeling like they need the perfect resume.
Teofilo described how necessary it was to debunk this myth. “I had to reassure myself that it is okay to not have a perfect 1600 SAT score; instead, there are many other things about my application that made me stand out.” Students who have been interviewed regarding this process have indicated that there is no set or perfect recipe.
Alice Ochi ’23, who was rejected from her first choice but accepted into the colleges that she applied early action, echoed this idea. “Whether it was struggling with writing a supplement or not getting the decision I hoped for, I knew that I was going to end up where I should be. It is annoying to keep hearing that, but it really is true,” she said.
Every year, students realize that there is more to a college than just a name. Seniors learn that a name might be the deciding factor when a student narrows down their choices, but it is not everything. “There are a lot of schools where each person would be happy. You just need to find them,” said Maynulet.
While the advice from seniors might bring students some clarity about this process, seniors cannot answer every question a college applicant might have. For Lexi Barna ’25, “there are so many questions that my friends and I already have about this process, yet we still have a year and a half until we can get some clarity. I would love for there to be a way for our questions to be answered sooner.”
Jake Perdigon ’24 said that the College Counseling Department should consider adding a section to their MyCompass page where students can read frequently asked questions, send in questions, and receive a response from someone knowledgeable in this process. Siona Dua ’24 made another recommendation. “I think it would be very beneficial for us juniors to have the option to meet with our college counselors more frequently, instead of just Thursdays at lunch. It would give us the opportunity to get to know them and create better relationships,” she said.
Seniors had one last message for juniors at the beginning of the process: Year after year, students survive. “The college application process is one step in a long journey of personal discovery and growth,” said Landman. “Trust me when I say this, trust the process and stay true to yourself,” said Ochi.
