On the road of life, the senior year of high school should have a sign: "Warning: Stress Ahead!" Deciding where to spend your college years is an important choice, one that's worrisome enough without having to fret over acceptance and finance issues, too.
Many seniors rule out Ivy League schools immediately because of two well-known facts: prestigious schools are expensive, and they're hard to get into.
These "facts," according to Yale freshman Lauren Oyler and Brown University junior Paula Kaufman, aren't necessarily true.
"It is difficult to get in, but try. Try and try and try again," said Kaufman, a South Charleston High School graduate. "Since I was probably 8 or 9, I have wanted to go to one of the best colleges in America not because of the name but because I want to learn. It's what makes me tick."
Kaufman transferred from Tufts to Brown this year with a major in American Civilization. She already loves her new school.
"Brown is the most welcoming place I have ever been -- besides West Virginia," she said. "It is a community and truly a diverse school. There will be students on public assistance in your class as well as royalty. The amazing thing is you never know which is which. For the most part, class and race are not dividers here."
Oyler, who graduated from Hurricane High School in May, is enjoying her first year at Yale. "I truly feel like I made the best possible decision I could have as far as college goes."
Oyler agrees with Kaufman that Ivy League schools are not as openly competitive as one might imagine.
"I have yet to encounter any pressure or competition from anyone other than myself," she said. "The workload is a little harder than what I've heard about state schools but certainly not impossible.
"After I got in, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up, that every other freshman would be in these super-advanced classes," she admitted. "These fears still creep up on me, but once you're on campus, they kind of fade away. "
Oyler adds that while Yale doesn't appear to discriminate, there are Ivy League stereotypes for a reason. "The kids who come from wealthy private schools don't really have an accurate picture of the real world, so I think that it's great when people from underrepresented geographical areas such as West Virginia apply.
"While it is true that Yale and other Ivy League schools are trying to broaden the horizons of their student bodies and create more diverse campuses, they are definitely still in the process of doing this. Some people act as if West Virginia is a foreign country, and in some respects, it is."
So far as the application process goes, Oyler and Kaufman have tips that can apply to any college-bound senior, not just those aiming for the Ivy League.
Most important, they agree, is showing the admissions office what's unique about you. Highlight those things and try to have interesting extracurricular activities. Essentially, sell yourself. Show the school what you can give back to its community.
They also say that personal essays can be a great way to influence admissions. Kaufman recommends imbuing the essay with personality and doing research on the school so you can put information about the programs you're interested in into the essay. Oyler comments that essays that can affect the reader -- by poignancy, humor, etc. -- can make you stand out.
The biggest problem of all, though, isn't getting in: it's staying in. Is paying for an Ivy League school as impossible as people think it is?
Oyler says no. "Going to Yale is cheaper for me than going to WVU would have been without scholarships. Do not be afraid to apply to a school because of cost. Seriously."
She advises seniors to check the financial aid websites for Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
These tips can apply to any prestigious college, not just those in the Ivy League. A dream school doesn't have to be just a dream. With the right ingredients, it can be reality.
