We had the opportunity of interviewing Joyce, an alum from UCLA and student at Rice University about: College Applications
Here are some of her accolades:
a professional violinist
a YouTuber who shares valuable advice about her violin experiences
She shares these wise thoughts with us:
"Learning to negotiate a better financial package is valuable..."
"Mental and emotional health is so important so this was a huge priority for me."
"...don’t go overboard on your application process because you’re too afraid you won’t get in somewhere. "
Q: What did you consider when choosing colleges to apply and attend?
A: Location and program. I only applied to in-state schools because I wanted to stay close to home for my undergrad, but I also had to pick programs that had a good music department. I also narrowed down preference based on the kind of environment each school has.
Q: If you got into two schools you both wanted to attend, what was the ultimate deciding factor?
A: For my master’s program I actually had that dilemma, and it was either to stay close to home again or to move to Texas. Because so many of the other factors were the same (financial package, department level, opportunities) I decided to choose Rice because I wanted the chance to leave California. Going to school is a great opportunity to experience living in another city/state and I really wanted to take that advantage of the opportunity to live somewhere else.
Q: What were some important steps you took to prepare for college and when would you suggest taking them (researching, taking the SAT/ACT, writing essays, etc.)?
A: Definitely visiting the campus and emailing professors in your department. I would also use YouTube and other forms of social media to gauge the “vibes” at each school. While academics is an important and decisive factor, keep in mind that you will (most likely) be spending 4 years on this campus and you want to make sure that it is a right fit for you, personally. Mental and emotional health is so important so this was a huge priority for me.
Q: What is one thing you wish you knew when applying for colleges?
A: Understanding student loan and financial packages. This is something they don’t teach you at school, but it can severely impact your future if you don’t know what you’re doing. Learning to negotiate a better financial package is valuable too.
Q: What is something you avoided doing when applying for colleges?
A: I didn’t apply to colleges that I knew I wouldn’t attend even if I got in. It’s important to apply to your top, middle and safety schools, but don’t go overboard on your application process because you’re too afraid you won’t get in somewhere.
Think you know someone or are someone that can give some advice? Fill out this form here!
Have more questions based on what you’ve read? Submit them here!