Class of 2016 Mortarboard Designs:
Maeve McNamara
Worcester, MA
Undecided, but likely English or Political Science
I love the strong community and academics of Holy Cross. My college has a great alumni network for after graduation as well. I'm also a third generation legacy, so the school has already had a big impact on my life.
Holy Cross definitely matched my initial interests. I was looking for a medium sized school in a suburban area. I was really looking at schools all over the country, but was searching for that tight knit community that I found here at Sturgis. Strong academics, clubs, and reputation were important as well. It really has everything that I was hoping for.
If I could do anything differently it would probably be talking to Sturgis alumni about their college experience. It would have been helpful to hear the do's and don'ts of such an incredibly stressful and overwhelming process.
My advice is: Searching for your future college is at first overwhelming. There are hundreds of schools out there to choose from. You're probably worried about not finding the one that is perfect for you, and maybe not being accepted. My advice is to do as much research as you can! Start on the Internet, looking up a few things you would like to see in your future school. From there, continue to narrow down some colleges that interest you. Once you've put in the time and research, it's much less scary.
One of the most important things you can do from there is to visit as many schools as you can. The best times to do this are over summer vacation or day trips to local schools, which are excused absences at Sturgis. The most tedious part of the college process is the applications themselves. There are many essays, questions, and forms that you have to fill out, but take the time to do them right! The most difficult part of the college process is the waiting. You will be checking your email and mailbox every day until you've heard from all your schools. It's stressful and scary and sometimes heartbreaking, but know that there is a wonderful school out there for everyone!
Overall, I would say that the college process is complicated and confusing. Sturgis does a great job of taking the time to explain it to students and help them get through it; so listen to your guidance counselor. If you have your heart set on a school or have a dream school that might be a bit of a stretch, apply anyways! You never know what could happen.
You can get through this tumultuous time. In the end you will find the school that is perfect for you!
Jensen Simmons
Baltimore, Maryland
Undecided
I chose Goucher because it had a very similar atmosphere to Sturgis due to its small size and its attention the students. I was initially looking at size and a variety of programs/majors to choose from when I decide my major. Goucher matched my initial interest. My biggest advice is don't pick colleges just because your friends are applying there. You are your own person with your own preference and you need to find the college that's right for you.
Katie Curran
New York, New York
Political Science & Economics
I selected Columbia for its exciting Core Curriculum, vibrant location and specific major for my career goals. My advice is to start applications early and put a sincere amount of thought into your college applications. Be prudent and patient during the entire process. Most importantly: Reach for your dreams! They can be achieved!
Chris Neuman
Waltham, MA
Finance and CIS
I decided to attend Bentley because it is a business oriented school with amazing networking and career opportunities. I initially looked for trading rooms, active student communities and an urban/suburban setting. I recommend that you put effort into earning a high GPA. My variety of extracurricular activities and strong standardized testing scores definitely helped during the application process. My parting advice is:
Most important things to look for in a school:
- High Retention/Graduation Rate
- Networking
- Return on Investment (ROI)
- Your prospective program
Don't base your judgement of a school on:
- Average high school GPA
- Price (if the education is worth it)
- Parties/Social Fraternities (this should go without saying)
- Ranking (depends on industry though)
- Sports
Remember:
- Community College is NOT a bad choice as it saves tons of money for the first 2 years of college, and provides a great education. If you perform well, it is an excellent segway into a private or public institution. I wish you all luck in your future endeavors. Make wise choices!
Hannah Trelegan
Tampa, Florida
Entrepreneurship
Initially, I was looking for a school in a southern city with an excellent business school. The University of Tampa has a great business school and awesome city location. I applied to over 22 schools. My advice would be to definitely apply to less schools. Know what you want in a college and only apply to schools that have exactly what you are looking for.
Christina Lucci
Wenham, MA
Theatre Arts/Secondary Education
Gordon College is a Christian college with emphasis on not only challenging its students but also bringing faith into the classroom. I was initially looking for a theatre major but I also didn't want to go so far from home. Gordon is approximately 2 hours away so it's just far enough. Looking back on the process, I would have listened to my mom more. She knows me better than anyone. My advice is: be who you are. Do what you want to do.
Meghan Rogers
Framingham, MA
Nutrition
I selected Framingham State University due to its location, price, campus, people and program. I initially looked for a nutrition/ dietitian program in Massachusetts. My actual college matched my initial interest. In terms of what I would have done differently, I would have looked at more state schools. My advice is to be realistic when choosing a school.
Tess Puopolo
Newport, Rhode Island
Biology and Secondary Education
I selected Salve Regina for the location, the size and academic programs. I was initially looking for a Neuroscience Minor. My actual college matched my initial interest. If I could have done something differently, I would have joined more clubs. My advice is that although the IB is hard, push through, you can all do it. Plan everything wisely and study hard for your IB exams.
Chris O'Brien
Springfield, MA
Sport Biology
I chose Springfield College because it has a good reputation for sport sciences, nice campus and good sport teams. I was initially looking for somewhere with warm weather like California and I wanted to study sport medicine. In terms of what I would have done differently, I might have gone to a good school in the Carolinas or California. I recommend talking to your guidance counselor and to student at the colleges.
Ian Law
Amherst, Massachusetts
Chemistry
I chose this college because it offers all of the programs that I want. I also believe the culture will nurture my talents and open up many new opportunities for research. I initially was looking for a fencing team, a diverse chemistry department and an enjoyable campus. My biggest advice is to do your IAs on time. This will give you more time for your college applications!