College Admissions: Advice to The Class of 2016 From The Class of 2015
Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert
College Admissions: Advice to The Class of 2016 From The Class of 2015
- Always go on separate info sessions and tours from your parents because they are way too opinionated. The search is about your preferences, not theirs.
- Write your essays during the summer!!!
- Don’t believe all the rumors you hear about admissions. Most of them are not true.
- Pay close attention to each campus you visit and really see whether you could envision yourself there for four years.
- Write great essays that talk about personal growth, situations you have learned from, philosophies, and challenges overcome. These core ideas can be modified to cover a multitude of extra essays on the Common App.
- Get your applications in for all early action deadlines. Having at least once acceptance before Christmas really relieves stress.
- Remember not to let up in school once you get into your first college. There's nothing more stressful than when you think there's a possibility of getting your acceptance taken away.
- Don’t think of your college search as the end-all. College shouldn’t be what you have worked so hard for these past 4 years—consider college just a stepping stone to making a difference in the world. In the future, no one is going to care where you went to college, they’re going to care what you did during/after. College isn’t the goal, it’s a way of reaching your goal. For me, this realization gave me a lot of perspective.
Wise words of wisdom from the Class of 2015. Congratulations to all the graduating seniors!
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Sensible Advice to the Class of 2015
Charles Bakst, 71, Providence, retired Providence Journal political columnist.
“Stand for something and act upon it.Don’t assume someone else already has done it or will do it. Work to advance yourself but remember there are plenty of people, even right here in Rhode Island, who have not had the advantages you’ve had. They could use a break too. Help them.”
Dave Barber, 60, East Greenwich, Reporter Capitol Television RI State House.
“It’s attitude, not aptitude that will determine your altitude. There is nothing that will serve you better in the future than a positive mental attitude. There are two days in life that never exist; yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery. Live in the moment. Exercise gratitude and kindness in all that you do because there has never been a statue erected of a critic.”
Rick Roth, 61, Cambridge, MA, Owner of Mirror Image.
“Read because if you don’t know anything you are no good to yourself or anybody else and reading is the key to gaining knowledge. When you are talking (particularly about yourself) you can’t listen. You learn by listening. Try to make the world a better place Pursuit of money is an empty pursuit and will leave you unhappy and dissatisfied.”
Scott A. Davis, 58, Eastside, Owner of the Rhode Island Antique Mall.
“In today’s age of information, simply having knowledge is not worth much. The secret to success in the future will not lie so much in what you know, but in your ability to synthesize information, whether already known or newly acquired, and to draw insightful and valuable conclusions from it.”
Scott Rotondo, 41, Pawtucket, accountant at Tivoli Audio.
“Always be willing to expand your intellectual toolbox. Challenge the way things are done, and your own beliefs from time to time. Take in other people’s opposing points of view not with rancor and disdain but with dignity and respect.”
Lisa A. Proctor, 55, East Providence, healer/counselor.
“You can not necessarily say all things are possible with God because many do not believe, but I would say a lot of situations we find ourselves in heal when we live honestly, purely, committed and have a merciful and compassionate heart towards others.”
Rudy Cheeks, 65, a musician and columnist of Motif, Providence.
“If you can find what you love and make it the center of your life, you’re doing good and will likely be happy. Whatever you do, “building community” should be an element in your life. Meet your responsibilities (e.g. if you want to create your own family, make sure you are ready for it and committed to it). When you become an “active consumer,” be a smart and thoughtful consumer.”
Kathy Needham, 53, Rumford, Controller, of Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call.
“Follow this old adage, “Autograph your work with excellence, it is a signature of who you are." Take great pride in all you do but always remember to be humble. Know that success is a personal goal.”
Gayle L. Gifford, 61, Providence, a strategy consultant to nonprofits.
“Be an informed citizen of the world. Read quality news from home and abroad. Travel. Look. Hear. Participate to create the community you want your children and grandchildren to live in. Hopefully that community is one of justice, peace and inclusion. Don’t work all day in a job that destroys what you value. Play outside.”
Crystal R. Parifitt, 41, Pawtucket, Owner of FurBabies, a small pet salon.
“Live within your means, below if you can…owning the biggest and best is overrated. Don’t go after financial gain, choose financial stability because in 20 years you will regret the time you spent ‘chasing’ when you should have been living.”
Nancy Thomas, Cranston, President of Tapestry Communications.
“What you have done has largely been expected of you. Now, what do you expect of yourself! Find more than one thing you can do. Pursue your education. You’re not done. Read, discuss, have opinions. Let the negative inspire you, and the positive be your lens. And, as it has always been, there is no work as important as that of raising a child. Find your path to doing well at both.”
Barbara Peters, Newport, former AARP RI Communications Director.
“Life is full of successes and disappointments. When we are young we tend to “cry” when the material things we want don’t immediately come our way. Forget the disappointments and concentrate on your successes. Nobody will hand you what you think you deserve. [Only] hard work, dedication to your craft and sensitivity to the feelings of others will bring the rewards to you that are truly deserved.”
Cheryl Babiec, Pawtucket, Pawtucket School Teacher.
“As an old saying goes….’One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure’ continues to hold true with the test of time. One of my yard sale “finds” had the following inspirational verse (though the author is unknown):‘Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.’”
