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Applying to Holy Cross – I Was Scared, Too

So, it’s the end of 2019, and if you’re a senior in High School, I’m here to tell you it’s going to be okay. I was in your shoes a year ago today. I too was stressed while applying to colleges, and I felt like I was on the brink of a breakdown, but I’m alive – I lived to tell the tale, and best of all, I’m happy.

As my first blog post, I thought it would be fitting to tell you guys a few of the things I did while applying to colleges, particularly to Holy Cross. This is by no means a step-by-step guide on how to get in, but maybe (just maybe) it’ll help you keep your sanity.

HOW I SURVIVED COLLEGE APS & CHOSE HC:

  • DO NOT PROCRASTINATE YOUR ESSAY. 
    • This is my number one tip! I know, you may be an avid procrastinator (like I was), but this is too important to put on the back burner. Your essay is one of your only opportunities to give the admissions committee a glimpse of who you are.  Talk about something that makes you unique, something that pushed you grow – something that you’re passionate about. Picking an essay topic was one of the most difficult tasks I’ve had to do. It’s hard to dilute yourself into a small word count, but it’s all about making each and every word count. It’s easier said than done, but all you can do is try your best. 
  • SEEK OUT INTERVIEWS & TALK TO ALUMNI
    • Requesting an interview demonstrates interest and it gives the college further insight to your personality, which builds your application. As important as this is, requesting an interview shows you the college vibe, especially if it’s with a current student or alum. I’m from Florida, so I interviewed with an alumna. Afterwards, I asked myself, “if I had her college experience, would I be happy? If I turned out to be like her, would I be happy?” The answer was yes and yes! Alumni are representations of the school, and when they ooze enthusiasm, like mine did, you know you’re applying to a special place.
  • WRITE THE “WHY” ESSAY
    • When I was faced with the “why do you want to attend xyzzy university/ college” question, I realized whether I was applying to the school because I really liked it or because I was infatuated with its brand. The worst thing you can do it write a generic response and submit it to all of the schools you’re applying to. Although this may not hurt you, it will not help you either.   When I wrote this essay for Holy Cross, it was easy to do. I had too much to say and too little words. Often, this is a good sign!

Extra Tips From People That Aren’t Me: 

“Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. You’re supposed to show off in an application.” – Sophie, University of Florida

“Don’t base your worth on whether or not you get into your dream school.  You’re more than a rejection letter.”  – Parker, Samford University

“Have a backup, just in case things change at the last minute” – Kathleen, University of Central Florida

“Trust the process.” – Jack, Saint Joseph’s University

I hope these tips make the application process a little bit easier. Remember, all you can do is be honest and stay true to yourself!
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TOP 10 FIRST YEAR TIPS

So, I’m assuming some of you guys have already been accepted (ED) to the class of 2024! If that’s the case – wooohoo!!!! Get excited! In honor of that, I thought I would share some tips I’ve learned this semester while being on the Hill.

Top 10 First Year Tips

  1. Decorate your room in a way that will inspire you. You always want to come back to a room that feels like home, not some place that feels like a hotel.
  2. Don’t be afraid of communal bathrooms. After a while, you get used to them. Trust me, everyone is going through the same shock.
  3. Bring a Winter Parka! You will need it sooner than you think, but maybe I’m just biased since I’m from Florida. At the latest, bring it back after Fall Break.
  4. Make time to call your parents. You will be busier than you think, especially if you join a lot of extracurricular activities or are on an athletic team. It’s easy to go days without talking to your parents, but make time to call them – it’ll help to prevent homesickness.
  5. Learn to embrace walking up stairs. Holy Cross is on a hill – there is no way of escaping stairs. You might as well embrace them, or even make them part of your workout routine.
  6. Take care of your physical health. It’s easy to get caught up in all your free time and in Kimball’s desert bar; however, it’s essential for you to take care of your body. Eat a salad. Go to the gym. Get some sleep.
  7. Take care of your mental health. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are many resources on campus. Get a cookie from the Chaplain’s house. Go to the counseling center. Talk to your friends or RA. If you’re struggling with a class, talk to your professors. Resources are all around you, so take advantage of them.
  8. Incorporate laundry to your weekly routine. It’s a horrible feeling knowing you have a million things to do and nothing to wear. By scheduling in laundry, you will always be on top of it!
  9. BRING A FAN. Since the dorms only have heaters, the first few months of college are brutally hot. Bring a fan – trust me, you will be grateful.
  10. Be a little vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be your most authentic self. You will find friends that are meaningful and similar to you – trust the process!

 

 
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A Day In The Life – A Photo Series

 

5:47AM – WAKE UP CALL

As members of the Women’s Rowing Team, in the dark, my friends and I trudge our way up to the Hart Athletic Center for our mandatory morning lift, which occurs twice a week, bright and early – earlier than the sun.

6:15AM-7:15AM – LIFT

As we grow stronger, we watch the sunrise, a beautiful sight.

7:30AM-8:00AM – BREAKFAST 

It’s time for My favorite meal of the day: breakfast. Every morning after Lift, I walk to Kimball and order the same thing,  an egg white omelet with tomatoes, spinach, and onions, along with “a little bit of cheddar cheese.” I’d highhhllly recommend it.

9:10AM-10:45AM – LIB&CLASS

Before class, I run to the library to print one of my English reflections, then I cross the road to Stein.

11:00AM-11:30AM – LUNCH(:

Since the semester is ending and I have over $200 dining dollars left, I decided to skip out on Kimball and eat at Cafe Babel, a coffee shop inside Stein. If you’re a coffee drinker, I’d recommend an iced coffee with room and vanilla, then add the French vanilla from the self serve station – it tastes like it’s from Starbucks or Dunks.

12:45PM-1:30PM – MONTSERRAT (NOT PICTURED) 

 2:10PM-5:00PM – CBL

For my Montserrat, I have to spend 2-3 hours a week volunteering for a class component called Community Based Learning. I decided to spend time at the Assumption Center, where I mentor little kids, playing with them and helping with their homework. 

 5:10PM-6:10PM – PRACTICE

Since it’s the winter, and we are technically in our off season, we go to “the Ledge” and spend an hour on the Erg. Since I’m a coxswain, I look for technical fixes, and I work out on the turf.

6:30PM-7:30PM – DINNER
8:00PM-10:00PM – LIBRARY 
11:00PM – SLEEP
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Living Like Larry AKA Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

I’ve had a coaster that says “life beings at the end of your comfort zone” since I was in middle school. It popped up in my room one day, probably due to my mom, and it stayed there for years. The phrase never really meant anything to me until I had to pick a college – until I found myself having to chose between two different life paths.

Obviously I chose Holy Cross, which, at the time, was a risky move. I moved 1,548 miles away from sunny Florida to season-filled Worcester, Massachusetts. I came here knowing no one. The other school I was considering was synonymous with safety. It was far away, but not too far. It was different, but not too different. It was new, but not too new. It seemed, as Goldilocks would put it, “just right.” But “just right” does not mean great. In order to be extraordinary, you must take risks. 

Risk is uncertain and full of change, and it starts with the decision to make a decision. I’m not going to lie, I used to be very indecisive. Just thinking about committing to a choice would send me down a spiral of panic because in my mind, choosing meant I was losing something. With every choice, I was closing a door that would never be opened again. However, being indecisive held me captive, paralyzing me as life moved on. I never realized that making a choice and embracing change, more often than not, brings something better.

Choosing to leave home, choosing Holy Cross – standing on the edge of my comfort zone and taking the leap – has  allowed me to live. This was the best choice for me, and although I miss home on gloomy days and although I miss my family, they are only a phone call away. Right now and over the course of the next four years I must focus on myself. Right now and over the course of the next four years, I must grow, change, and evolve into who whoever I chose to be.

My coaster sits on my college desk, and whenever things appear to be scary, I’m reminded that it’s what will drive me to be extraordinary. As you go through life, embrace every moment, even if it’s not forever. What’s coming may be scary, but life would be no fun without leaving your comfort zone, or, as my roommate who is reading this over would say, living like Larry.

my roommate and I (: