Finding A College That Fits

As the school year winds down, Northwest Academy’s graduating seniors have finally finished the college admission process. They know where they are going to college and are preparing to move on to the next chapter of their lives.

“The application process brings out many emotions,” Grace Underdahl, a senior at Northwest Academy, said. “It can be exhausting, exciting, stressful, nerve-wracking and fun. It really depends on how you handle it, but I can almost guarantee that all of those emotions will be part of it.”

For some seniors, the application process was made easier by having a clear idea of what they want to study. Senior Wilson Captein will be attending Kenyon College in Ohio in the fall of 2014.

“I plan to double major in English with a concentration in creative writing and psychology,” Captein said.

At Northwest Academy, students do not have to go through the college admission process all by themselves. Julia Cain, Northwest Academy registrar and college counselor, helps students figure out what their interests are and what would be a good college match.

“One of the reasons that I like working here is that there is no one type of school,” Cain said. “This year we had students apply to art schools, to liberal arts schools and to schools specifically for engineering. It would be very boring to work with kids that all wanted the same thing.”

To help students choose colleges, Cain arranges for 50 college and university representatives to visit Northwest Academy each year. She also organizes workshops to help students write essays, prepare applications and share information.

“By working in a group setting, the hope is to remind students that they are not alone,” Cain said. “This can be exciting and fun and everybody is going through it at the same time.”

For some seniors, applying to college has forced them to overcome fears about their future goals.

“I spent several years telling myself that I could never make it as a professional dancer,” Natalie Gullo, a senior who will be attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, said. “So I struggled with the decision to want to major in dance. I decided to major in dance because I love it, and I could not imagine myself doing anything else.”

While filling out the applications, taking the SAT, maintaining good grades and going on campus visits takes up a lot of time, many seniors feel that Northwest Academy has prepared them well.

“This entire process has been a rollercoaster,” Underdahl said. “In the end, hard work really does pay off. I worked my ass off to get into my top choice school, and I made it happen. I am so excited to attend Gonzaga University in the fall. Northwest Academy has
certainly prepared me for it all.”

Choosing a college is about more than just your education. It is also about choosing an environment where you can challenge yourself to learn and do new things.

“College is not life or death,” Cain said. “It’s just the next step. It does not define who you are. It is the chance to try something new and take risks.”