The Class of 2006 has mixed feelings about the decision-making process and the final outcome of college admissions. While some were happy to gain admission to their top colleges, more will not go to their first choices, but still remain excited for the next four years. Others are not satisfied whatsoever with their results. For some, like Mgbechi Erondu ’06, the results were all good. She was accepted at the 14 colleges to which she applied, including many Ivy Leagues, and has decided to attend Princeton. However, with so many acceptances, Erondu did face a difficult decision. She based her final choice on college visits, factoring in her comfort level on campus, the friendliness of other students, and if the school offered a program of study related to her main interests. Merit Webster ’06, who got into Stanford early and did not have to cope with the decision-making process, said that “watching people [who got accepted at multiple schools] choose was very difficult.” However, most Seniors did not receive admittance to their top schools. Despite this, many of these students are excited to attend another school. Emma King ’06, who will attend the University of Virginia next year, claims that the majority of Seniors “are happy where they are going, but they aren’t going to the places they thought they would be.” Jenny Li ’06 agrees that her peers are “relatively happy” with their final results. Claire Collery ’06 was waitlisted at several of the schools she applied to and remains unsure of where she will spend the next four years. She also expressed dissatisfaction with her own results. However, she too claimed that “generally people are happy” and most are going to their “edited first choices,” after realizing that Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are not always realistic decisions. Sam Woolford ’06 has a different perspective; he does not feel that his peers have acclimated to their results yet. While he is excited to attend Brown University next year, he said that he perceived mixed feelings from his peers and that “people either did really well or really badly.” He feels that his classmates either got into their top choices or were waitlisted at most schools. Melissa Chiozzi ’06, who will attend the University of Vermont, said that she has heard mostly negative feedback from her peers. She thinks that while a couple of people are happy, most of her classmates are not thrilled. She summed up the results saying that “people should be going to better places than they are.” David Clark ’06 expressed similar opinions, claiming that he generally felt people were unhappy. Chiozzi was additionally critical of many parts of the admissions process, particularly the Early Action option offered by many schools. Early Action allows students to apply early, but not to commit to the school until May, therefore occupying many places while the general admissions proceeds. Seniors agree that the college process was stressful and most are just glad that it is over. Andrew Badger ’06 and Scott Morgan ’06 both advised students to start their applications early. Badger, a one-year Senior, stressed the importance of the application. He advised, “Just get it done early and do a good job.” Morgan told future students to “make sure you apply to places you want to go,” although it requires more research and preparation. As Badger said, “good schools aren’t necessarily elite.”
