Crushed by College Applications
Viktor Zarev during a college visit at Cornell University, NY.
From the city-centered, scarlet and white research sanctuary of Boston University to the green-treed, crystal-skied colonial haven of Spelman College, Air Academy’s seniors are laboring with all their might to get admitted into their dream college.
This dirt-paved road to educational success has not been an easy one for seniors Ryn Wayman and Viktor Zarev, as well as many other students on the collegiate path. They have soul-searched, pondered their majors, and toiled late nights to fill out the dreaded “Common App.” Yet, even through the worst of college essays and deadlines, AAHS students persevere, landing spots at schools as prestigious as Harvard and Stanford.
“Major.” This word strikes fear into the hearts of unsuspecting young adults, setting off a chain reaction of panicked, self-directed questions: What are my interests? What do I want to do for the rest of my life? Is it O.K. to change my major for a fifth time? In general, this is true, but not for Ryn Wayman. When asked about her major, Wayman was confident and assertive in her answer:
“I’m interested in the function of government and the intersection of politics in daily life,” she said in regards to pursuing the major of Political Science and/or Communications. She chose this major because she firmly believes that “effective communication is the baseline for every society.”
Her love of communication shines through her avid participation in Air Academy’s journalism program.
As for Victor Zarev, it was the unique military presence of Colorado Springs and the interactive environment of Air Academy’s engineering class that invoked his passion for neurobiology and biomedical engineering. When he was 15, Zarev watched a documentary in engineering class that explored the technology of constructing artificial limbs. He was floored to learn that the mechanics of these devices were just barely developed. Having been surrounded by war veterans and active duty service members (many of which were amputees) his whole life, he wishes to help advance this technology.
“In my eyes, it was always the amputee veterans missing limbs who I thought needed the most help. That in itself inspired me to go along the path I want,” Zarev remarked.
According to The College Board website, the college application process can be broken down into ten categories: application forms, application fees, your high school transcript, your final transcript, admission test scores, letters of recommendation, essays, portfolios, and interviews. These tasks vary in level of difficulty among person to person. Test scores can be hard to bring up, letters of recommendation are often late, and the average application fee (according to The U.S. News and World Report) is $41.
However, for both Wayman and Zarev, the most laborious quest has been that of crafting the perfect admissions essay. Wayman stated that “essays [are the hardest] for me personally. It’s difficult to talk about yourself at length.” When asked how Zarev handles the stress and time-management of creating essays, he simply said, “I don’t sleep.”
“College Season” is not a time that students experience alone. Nearly 82% of AAHS graduates attend college, many of which found their college destinations through the help of AAHS’s college and career counselor, Dr. Eric Beers. As an adviser trained to alleviate the pain of application season, Dr. Beers gives valuable words of wisdom on a daily basis.
A few main focal points of his are to “reassure students the right college will accept you” and “make sure students have one or two safe schools, one or two middle schools, and one or two dream schools.” Not only does Dr. Beers possess an abundance of counsel and knowledge on the topic of college, but he also has unrelenting faith in the ability of AAHS to prepare seniors for this portion of their lives. He trusts that this school gives teens a sense of what they want to do, which in turn guides them in planning their futures.
“I think a big thing we have going for us is that we have so many great classes to pick from [such as] cool engineering classes, music, or drama. Exploring is a great way to figure out what you’re passionate about,” he said.
However time-consuming and stressful this college business is, it must be made known that it is not an impossible feat. Currently, both Wayman and Zarev have their Common Apps finished and out of the way. Now one step closer to success, Wayman remarks, “It’s a big feeling of relief. Now I’m taking it easy, reflecting, and updating.”
College Resources:
https://airacademy.asd20.org/Info/CollegeandCareer/Documents/Junior%20Parent%20College%20Night.pdf
https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions/applying-to-college
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/applications
https://airacademy.asd20.org/Info/CollegeandCareer/Pages/default.aspx
Hi there, I'm Kaitlyn, and I am the managing editor of this excellent publication. I'm a senior here at Air Academy, a military brat who has moved 13 times,...
