BY JOANNA MONOBE
The Westside Express
As the month of November came to an end, high school seniors at Los Banos High School raced to finalize their college applications. Among the most popular choices are the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems, both of which had application deadlines set for earlier this week on Dec. 2.
The college application process was both exciting and overwhelming. While students were eager to explore their future options, many found the process lengthy and challenging. With 23 CSU campuses and 9 UC campuses to choose from, students had a wide range of schools to choose from that could tailor to both their academic and career goals. However, navigating these choices and meeting application requirements was a daunting task for many.
CSU applications primarily focused on the student’s basic personal information and academic history, a summary of the courses taken throughout high school. In contrast, UC applications were more interested in extracurriculars, as students were asked to provide general information alongside any other non-school activities and awards they’ve earned throughout their four years in high school.
Many students have expressed their struggles when writing their personal insight questions. Although the UC application gives prompts for students to follow, students have shared their struggles when deciding how to answer.
Marisol Gallardo, a senior, shared her thoughts on this aspect of the application saying, “The personal insight questions are the most stressful because it’s really difficult to figure out what to write about.”
Recognizing the challenges, teachers and administrators have stepped in to support students. San Juana Gonzalez, the senior counselor at LBHS, offered extra help to seniors throughout the past months to assist and advise them on the different ways they can improve their applications.
Some seniors have also been helping each other out with applications and have been vocal about the importance of completing everything on time.
Marley Zavala, another senior, shared advice for juniors preparing for their own college applications stating, “My advice for juniors is to participate in everything. Colleges are very interested in what you do in your free time and the awards you receive.”
