It’s that time of the year: as the first quarter comes to an end, college applications loom over the heads of Foothill Technology High School’s (Foothill Tech) class of 2025. Whether students plan on attending a four-year university or a two-year community college, applications are a predominant topic of many campus conversations.
Some seniors have already applied to colleges, as the early action or early decision deadline for schools on the Common Application (Common App) is Nov. 1, 2024, while for most schools on Common App, the regular decision is around Jan. 1, 2025. For students applying for fall 2025 admission, the approaching deadline for University of California (UC) applications is Dec. 2, 2024, and the California State University Application (CSU) deadline is Nov. 30, 2024. For students juggling extracurriculars or a heavy academic workload, filling out applications can be a lot to balance in what may seem like limited time.
The application process can be difficult to navigate, whether it be filling out coursework correctly or choosing a topic for essays. Along with a personal statement essay for Common App, many schools require supplementals, or short answer questions, on top of it. “There’s a whole lot of supplemental essays … it seems like it’s a never-ending process, but I feel like it will be really fulfilling once it’s over,” Hailey Hall ‘25 remarked.
Filling out information within applications can be hard to keep track of, due to the sheer amount of minute details that may be missed. “It seems like [the applications] are never perfect, and you’ll always catch a small mistake,” Hall says. The fear of submitting an incorrect application is one upheld among many students, so it’s always helpful to have another set of eyes look over your application, whether that be an advisor, parent or friend.
Foothill Tech does offer many resources to help students with their applications. Counselors are always willing to assist students or answer any questions regarding college. Events such as Applications and Appetizers, which occurred on Oct. 22, 2024, are organized to give additional help to seniors outside of school hours from counselors, teachers or advisors. “I’ve talked to my counselor a few times … I went to the Common App workshop … and I feel like my counselor has been helping me a lot to understand what’s going on,” Hannah Bell ‘25 said.
College application workshops, which take place in the Media Center, are an additional resource greatly beneficial to students interested in receiving help with applying. “I went to the UC Personal Insight Question (PIQ) workshop, which was actually really helpful because they gave some solid examples of what they’re looking for,” Loren Romero ‘25 stated. College representatives from different universities also visit the Media Center, which are a great opportunity for students interested in a particular college to receive more information about application deadlines or requirements.
With application deadlines just around the corner, combined with the end of the first quarter and fall break coming up, it is finally setting in for many students that senior year is flying by. “There has been an emphasis to finish strong, especially with our classes” stated Nicholas Rosales-Henley ‘25.
Though the stress of college applications coupled with the end of the first quarter may seem all-consuming at the moment, college decision emails will be rolling in before we know it. Despite each student’s different post-high school pathway, the reality of senior year is finally sinking in for many. It is important to not take these days for granted and cherish the moments outside of applications or academics, to make memories to look back on years from now. This time of the year, though quite stress-inducing, is also truly an exciting time for the class of 2025 as the future becomes more and more real.
