DANA AL-QADI
Gargoyle senior editor
Posted Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007
Opinions

TODAY, I GOT lost on my way to the post office. Two years going on three in this town and I still get lost when I attempt to run errands. And not just any errand — today I was sending out my final college application in a standard brown envelope.

This momentous occasion definitely inspired me to do some reflecting about the whole process I had just completed. I mean, I completed the college application process.

As my dad so very reassuringly keeps telling me: “Dana, stop worrying. Even if your essay was awful, there is nothing you can do at this point. Your part is done.” Hmm, thanks, father dearest.

Several months ago, when I began to fill out the applications, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. The grueling throes of the college admissions process. Essays that have to be worded, reworded, and then reworded again. Résumés that need to be pored over countless times. But where was the grueling part?

Is it just me or did the college application process most definitely not live up to all of the hype? I mean, does this resonate at all with any of my fellow ‘07-ers? Or am I just being absolutely crazy?

The applications were tedious, long, and at times a little bit stressful. But whom are we kidding? We've all had nights of homework that would make even the most daunting college application pale in comparison.

The only part that proved rather difficult was simply making enough time to sit down and have some quality time with the application. I was maintaining a regular course load with plenty of homework and tests along with a Saturday anatomy lab and daily extracurriculars, and then was expected to find time to write a college essay about exactly what kept me so busy? Right.

For those who haven't been through the process yet, these applications are not a big deal. Seriously. And not because success should be individually defined, because let's face it, we've been hearing that a lot. So I'm not going to say it again.

What I am going to say is that your transcript has been compiling since your freshman year. Your teachers already like or dislike you. Your résumé has already been coming together since the day you joined subbie basketball. You can't really change who you are to automatically become the perfect-looking student on paper. It's all been in the making for a while now.

A college application is important, but all of the hype is near ridiculous. You don't need to have the perfect essay; you need to have a personally expressive one. You don't need to spend hours contemplating which pen to use for your signature; just sign your name correctly spelled.

Besides, we've all kind of done this before. We did fill out applications to come here, right?

And one piece of personal advice: Use the most amazing stamps you can find on your envelope and possibly sprinkle some potpourri if you are feeling particularly Martha Stewart-ish (pre-prison). As I always say, a floral-scented college application is a happy college application.