While CHS freshmen are busy getting used to the high school transition, seniors are occupied with preparing to leave the school forever. College applications are being sent, leaving the student waiting for a reply that will determine what the future holds for them. For seniors, this is what their whole high school experience has come down to.

Sending out college applications is a process almost every senior must to go through and they often must endure it more than once. Whether the student is applying to a prestigious Ivy League school or one of the smaller colleges closer to home, it’s an important step for everyone.

While the actual application process may start when you’re a senior, students start seriously preparing for college during their junior years. Counselor meetings as well as class meetings help give students an idea of what they need to do to prepare for the admissions process. Taking the SAT and ACT are also important for students applying to college because scores can be the final deciding factor when students start looking at what school they might want to attend.

“I took an SAT course for a few weeks before junior year and it made all the difference on the test,” senior Faith Kindervag said. “Doing well on the test will really help with scholarships and honors programs.”

Athletes have the chance to get an athletic scholarship from schools interested in their talents. But scholarships aren’t only for athletes, and many CHS students are aiming for an academic scholarship.

“Academic scholarships are really great for people that may not have much going for them other than their brains,” senior Diane Feldman said.

It may seem that applying to college is a student responsibility alone, but CHS offers plenty of help when it comes to admissions. Not only can teachers prove beneficial for recommendations, they can even help out when it comes to writing college essays. AP English teacher Kim Pearce has helped many students write essays for their college applications.

However, sending in an application is only the first part of applying and getting in. Even before a student is accepted into a college, it is recommended to also apply for housing and financial aid. Money is often a problem for perspective students, and the faster you apply for aid, the quicker the turnaround.

Most students use FAFSA, or Free Application For Student Aid, to get the help they’ll need to pay for college. Whether or not a student receives financial aid could determine the college the end up choosing to go to.

After all the applications are done, transcripts are sent out and teacher recommendations are mailed, students must sit on pins and needles as they wait for an answer. It’s gratifying for any student to get into the college they were hoping for.

“It’s really cool getting into my dream college,” senior Morgan Stabell said. “Growing up, I always wanted to go to Texas A&M because my family went there. Learning I got in was such a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.”