Dear Class of '26, We Survived College Applications and You Can, Too

Seniors pose in their college gear on commitment day. *Photo: Leah Portnoy*

By ISABELLA MASON

Seniors. We’ve done it. Survived a year of “Where did you ED to?” and “What's your major?” for small talk. But unfortunately for our underclassmen brethren, there’s another class of Hornets preparing for the hell that is college application season. Midwood’s Class of 2026 is gearing up for a bloody battle, but luckily they have the successful class of 2025 to guide them.

With Midwood students attending Ivies like Harvard and Cornell, and other top schools like Tufts, Barnard, and Northwestern, there’s hope for you little Hornets buzzing about where you’ll end up.

As juniors approach the beginning of the end, there’s a gazillion things to think about: SAT/ACT and AP scores, internships over the summer, writing a personal statement, creating a list of schools to apply to, and somehow finding time to relax in between. But with the help of your upperclassmen (and hopefully this article!) you’ll feel prepared to enter senior year like a G.

If you’re a junior feeling a bit behind, take a chill pill. Seriously. While seniors generally agreed that it’s never too early to start researching, they all stressed the importance of staying organized and spreading your workload out.

“Start in the earlier months before your deadlines so that you can put a lot more time and care into all of your applications,” said Temple-bound Folasade Olosunde. “Start thinking about it in May or June of your junior year, so that you can apply for any scholarship or internship opportunities during the summer.”

Wondering where to apply? There are a million factors to consider, but the main ones for many soon-to-be graduates were academic prestige, internship opportunities, social life, and location.

“Try to think about what environment you would see yourself in,” said Giomaris Hill, who is starting at NYU this fall, “whether you want a bigger or smaller school, a city environment or a more college town environment. Then you could get into what you would like to major in and what profession you see yourself in.”

Going into the process with a clear goal will set you up for success when getting down to the nitty gritty: actually writing your essays.

A word of advice? Take it from NYU-bound Elijah Sampson who put it this way: “The college admissions process is a game of who can pretend to be the best in the best way possible, and who can present themselves the best to admissions officers.”

While crafting a compelling essay seems like a daunting task, breaking it down into what it really is – a story about you and your achievements – can help simplify the process.

“The Common App essay is really where you tell a story; you take one focal point and you demonstrate your values and highlight things about yourself,” Sampson said. “It's all about weaving your character throughout your application when you can.”

Admissions officers want to see impact in your essays and activities, and it can start with a simple observation. For me, it was observing the starkly segregated neighborhoods of NYC, while for Sampson it was washing dishes. When navigating the process, remember to show impact, impact, impact!

One way to weave your character into your application? Those darn extracurriculars you hear so much about on TikTok.

“My position in student government was crucial in my acceptance because it allowed schools to see that I was a pivotal figure in my [school] community,” said Olosunde. “Schools like to see that you're committed to something and that you invest a lot of time in it. Playing [volleyball] in school and in clubs definitely helped show my commitment.”

Whether it’s sports, a personal business, or taking care of a sick family member, colleges want to see that dedication. Don’t just stack up clubs you don’t care about. Having fewer clubs on your application, but holding high positions and having impact within those clubs, is a lot more appealing than having four different clubs that you did for one semester.

Having trouble finding extracurriculars or internships? Don’t overlook Midwood’s opportunities! The resources may be closer than you think.

“I emailed my counselor a crap ton during the college process,” said Amaya Williams, who’s heading to Barnard College. “He probably saw my emails at least three times a day because I constantly asked him for help.” Seniors also named UStrive, Schoolhouse, and Khan Academy as helpful tools for receiving free counseling for essays and studying for the SAT/ACT.

Now to address the elephant in the room: financial aid. Don’t say the words FAFSA or CSS in front of a senior, as they might start convulsing.

This part of the process is unique to your family, so begin asking your parents/guardians about their finances so you can build an idea of where you can realistically apply. To my fellow low-income students, don’t count yourselves out – top schools give crazy aid!

“Look into as many scholarships as you can and also don't not apply to a school just because you feel like it might be too expensive,” said Hill. “A lot of schools give good financial aid packages and you can oftentimes dispute your aid and get more money. Don't limit yourself.”

Take all financial advice with a grain of salt. Only you know your family’s finances, so aim for the moon, but make sure you have some stars to land on. Start early and make use of the financial aid calculators on each university’s website.

After you hit submit on the Common App, it’s time for the brutal waiting game.

“It was really anxiety inducing, because the waiting was just too much and too long. It was just really nerve wracking,” said Hill.

”While you’re waiting for decisions to come back, don't get caught up in thinking, ‘Oh, did I get in?’” said Sampson. “That is very mentally damaging, so just go have fun. It's senior year – the last time you’re a teenager in high school and you get to do dumb stuff without being penalized for it.”

Applying to college is extremely demanding, so it becomes even more important to take care of yourself and prevent burnout. Spend time with friends and family, or anything that allows you to decompress.

“Try your best to keep your spirits high and try not to compare yourself as much because comparison really is the thief of joy,” said Hill.

Depending on if you applied early or not, you’ll begin hearing back from schools starting in December all the way to April. Regardless of what decisions you get back, remember that your worth isn’t tied to where you study, and neither is your intelligence.

“It was definitely an up-and-down roller coaster for me when I got rejected or deferred in the early rounds,” said Ashley Chen, who’s heading to Northeastern University. “I was really scared I wasn’t going to get into my ED schools. It turns out you get accepted where you’re supposed to be.”

While handling rejection is something words can’t prepare you for, the Class of 2025 seemed to have their own mantra to deal with the storm of emotions they experienced: “Rejection is redirection.”

“I'm happy for [other students], but I have to ask myself if I’d want to go to that college anyway?” said Williams. “They can get into every single Ivy league, but if I don't want to go to any of them, what's the point in comparing myself?”

“You will get a lot of surprises, so do not lose hope if you're getting a lot of rejections because it only takes one school,” said Silvia Feng, who is attending the University at Buffalo.

Applying to college is a big step in your transition into adulthood, so it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or hopeless. Recognize that everyone around you is also going through this with you, and you're not alone in this battle.

“I really had no clue as to what I wanted to do,” said Williams. “I didn't have a personal statement until I started my senior year.”

“The college process wasn't as complicated as I made it out to be in my head,” said Danielle Escobar, who’s on her way to Borough of Manhattan Community College. “It's really just a matter of sitting there and doing it.”

Just a few months ago, we were exactly where you are, overwhelmed by all the college office visits, scraping together one essay after another. But we’re living proof that the universe has a plan for you, even when it’s hard to believe in the moment.

Dear Class of 2026, make mistakes. Write from the heart, ask for help, and celebrate the small wins. You’ve got goals, dreams, and a blank Common App—go make it count.