College Preparation With The Class of 2019

Arrowhead seniors have been preparing for college, and they have been starting their college applications process.

Ashlyn Hassler, a senior at Arrowhead, reported she started her application process one month ago. Students, like Hassler, have been sending in transcripts, ACT scores, writing essays, and more.

Arrowhead helps students apply to colleges by offering the college essay workshop.  Students are able to write their essays with support and help.

Students have found found the workshops inviting and helpful while completing these essays. Barrin Griffin, a senior at Arrowhead, says, “I would like to get feedback and [get] advice for my essays before I send them off to the colleges I would like to go to.” The college essay workshop is run by English teachers Terri Carnell, Liz Jorgensen, and Becca McCann.

The workshop, held only for seniors, allows students to understand what the college administrative offices want to see. Carnell, Jorgensen, and McCann will help the students plan, draft, write, share, and receive feedback.

There are seven sessions of the workshops September 20th, September 23rd, September 27th, October 18th, October 21st, and October 25th. Seniors are able to come to any of the workshops when they feel they need guidance. The workshop takes place in an Arrowhead classroom, N199.

Arrowhead also offered Senior Flight, on August 2nd, 2018, which allows students to learn about Common Applications, Parchment, and college essays.

Audrey Koller, a senior at Arrowhead, said, “I didn’t know that Common App and Parchment even existed. A lot of kids were upset about how long [Flight] was, but I really enjoyed the benefits I got out of it, and the time the staff took with us.” Students were able to get hours of undivided staff attention during the Senior Flight program. It was dedicated to  the questions and concerns students about the common apps.

Many students at Arrowhead were not aware of the resources available at Arrowhead to make the process easier, according to Koller.

Koller says, “I left Senior Flight feeling a lot better about applying to colleges, and I am now not as nervous to go on and to send in my applications.” Koller has shown she feels more secure now that she has an idea of what she is doing.

Early applications are due by November 15th and deadline applications are due by February 1st.

As students realize what they need to do and what they need to get done, immediate stress is relieved off the students, according to Griffin.

Hassler says, “Many students I have talked to want to stay in Wisconsin when they go to college, but I really want to go to Arizona State University…I would really like to find a new environment that is different from where I’ve lived my whole life.” Students in Wisconsin are looking to move out of their comfort zones and go see the world for themselves.

Arrowhead has taught us to strive for our dreams and goals, Hassler said. Arrowhead has been able to have the students aim high with their goals and ambitions.

Griffin has been working four-five days a week on his preparation for college. These students have shown their effort they have put into applications so far.

“I am applying to five schools and I have written four college essays and am planning to write more this weekend,” said Barrin. Barrin has been keeping up his grades and studying for the ACT to make sure he is able to make it into his first college pick.