For some high school students, applying to college can feel like a daunting task. It requires work and preparation, and represents a new chapter in the lives of many. Not every college experience is the same, however, and some Norwalk students have mixed feelings about it.
“I’m a mixture of both excited and nervous,” said senior Isaac Binder. “I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life, but I have never been to college before and don’t know what to expect.”
Senior Alayna Williams said that students shouldn’t hold off on looking into college, and said they should begin their search as soon as possible.
“Definitely look sooner than the start of your senior year,” Williams said. Williams, who is planning on going to college to pursue a career in music, has already been accepted into a college and didn’t find the process that difficult.
Not every current senior has been accepted into a college. Aiden Basinger has yet to commit, but there is still time before the end of the year.
“I’d say parts of it are stressful,” Basinger said. “Some of the essays can be, but the majority of the process is pretty chill”
Aiden said his siblings, former Norwalk students, had success in college, and were a source of inspiration for him.
“I’ve heard good things from my siblings,” Basigner said. “Parts of it have been really fun for them.”
For students still looking for additional college information, there are many resources located on the student counseling page on the Norwalk High School website. There, you can find links to college registration, Norwalk’s Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) profile, a schedule for upcoming college visits, as well as information on scholarships and college sports. The counselors are always available to field any questions regarding college, and Norwalk’s DMACC Career Advantage Advisor is Paige Warden, who visits the school on occasion.
Junior Landon Boeding is already preparing for college. He has visited both the Iowa and Iowa State campuses and plans to visit the University of Northern Iowa’s campus before he becomes a senior. Boeding believes campus visits are a key aspect of applying for college, and it’s also a graduation requirement here at Norwalk.
“I’m nervous and not prepared,” Boeding said.
Boeding felt that there was a difference between applying to college as a junior as opposed to applying as a senior.
“I think if you’re a junior applying for college, you already have an idea of what you want to do ahead of time. Seniors may still be questioning what they want to do,” Boeding said.
English teacher Mrs. Eakins had a similar viewpoint to Boeding.
“They don’t understand the process,” Eakins said when asked about what she noticed when seniors apply for college. She says that most students she interacts with are stressed about college, but says that you shouldn’t “feel like you need to know everything”
Eakins graduated from Grand View University in Des Moines a decade ago, and she was older than some of her professors. Even though her journey was unconventional, she still believes college to be a very formative experience.
“I would recommend college,” Eakins said. “It was a good experience that helped me learn new perspectives.”
