Waiting in Anticipation: 'Tis the Season for College Acceptance Letters

After a bit of a relaxation period since sending in college applications during the winter months, high school seniors instantly become on edge again as soon as the first of March rolls around.

The month of March signifies the start of college acceptance letters rolling in. Some colleges announce specific days that they will be sending out acceptance letters, but some keep their applicants on the edge of their seats, waiting anxiously.  

“I've gotten into UC Davis and UC Irvine, and I’m waiting for UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD and UW-Madison,” said Simone Salman. “It’s going to be hard to decide where to go.” 

“So far I’ve only been accepted to state schools such as San Diego State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but I’m still waiting for some UCs which don't come out until mid or late March,” said Ashley Xa.

Deciding where to go, and where to apply in the first place, can be tough. There is a lot of pressure on high school seniors as they make these decisions that will determine the next step in their lives. 

“I want to go somewhere sunny, somewhere close to family, or, if not close to family, close to an airport," said Salman. "My top priority, though, is that it has good places to eat around it, or at least a kitchen where I can make food. My mom's not going to be around, so I need to have a happy stomach,” 

Besides picking a location that suits one’s needs, the biggest factors in deciding where to go are college is the college’s majors and programs.

“For colleges, I’m really looking for the opportunities and programs offered there, not so much the surroundings,” said Xa.  

“My dream school? Right now it's a tie between UCSD, UC Berkeley and UW-Madison," said Salman. "I like UCSD because of the weather, the beach and the research facilities. I like Berkeley because it's close to home. I like UW-Madison because it is the most authentic college town.

“The school I go to needs to have a good English department because I love to read and a good science department because I'm majoring in chemical engineering. I want to be an architect or a doctor someday. Chemical engineering lets me study both, so when it's time to apply to grad school, I’ll have a good idea of what I want to do.”

Careers in science and technology seem to be the top choice for many high school students planning on going to college. The rapid growth of technology and science-related fields has made this the most logical choice for students, as it almost guarantees that they will be able to find a job out of college.

“I really want to go to Cal Poly or UC Davis," said Xa. "I’ve already been accepted by Cal Poly, so I’m just waiting for Davis right now. It’s going to be a really difficult decision if I’m accepted to both.

For college, I plan to graduate as a biochemistry major, and the schools I’ve applied have their own strengths in that department. Davis is just really well known for their science majors and Cal Poly is strong in their math and sciences courses.”