The College Application Journey

By Leilani Arita-Takayama (ʻIolani School) and Sheldon Tawata (Kapiʻolani Community College)

The Hawaiʻi Association for College Admission Counseling (Hawaiʻi ACAC) is a local affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The Hawaiʻi ACAC’s membership consists of Hawaiʻi college counselors in public and private high schools from across the state, as well as admissions and enrollment specialists from public and private colleges and universities. The members of the Hawaiʻi ACAC volunteer their time to promote the mission of the Hawaiʻi ACAC and NACAC, which is to provide access to postsecondary education to all students. With that said, we wanted to come together and provide insights as high school seniors start their college application journey. 

This is probably one of the most mind blowing turning points for high school seniors and their families. One day these youths were learning their ABC’s and now they are preparing for life after high school. Where did all the time go?!? We, the Hawaiʻi ACAC, collectively have worked with thousands of students with a wide range of goals and aspirations. We get the level of stress that comes with applying to college so we want to help ease some of those anxieties. 

Let’s start with the college and university landscape, which is huge. There are public and private colleges and universities that include community colleges and institutions that offer bachelor’s degrees. Speaking of degrees, post secondary certifications can come in the form of Certificates, Associate’s Degrees, and Bachelor’s Degrees. But how does one know which is the right fit? That is an excellent question!

We look at “fit” as being a combination of variables that best meet a student’s academic, personal, financial, and professional goals in life when looking at higher education institutions. Factors like the cost of college, social and physical environment, the location and resources of an institution along with other student-defined characteristics are important to consider alongside a student’s goals and aspirations.

Students should be aware of their learning styles and what will work for them as they continue their educational journey. The learning environment ranges from small classroom sizes to lecture halls. Some instructors require students to take handwritten notes where others are fine with students using technology. Many universities offer a variety of learning modes that include online and in-person teaching so it is important for students to find what environment works for them.

Those on the college side have worked with students who have changed their major multiple times – a very normal thing. As students take courses in their first few semesters, they may discover something that is more aligned with their goals and aspirations. Students have access to academic advisors to help change their major and select courses to stay on track toward graduation. 

While in high school, students are strongly encouraged to take an active role in their future. Within their respective high schools, there are multiple ways to self discovery such as clubs and student government. Yes, sports can also be important and we encourage students to think about their role within their teams and start identifying transferable skills, like leadership. Students should make quality time to meet with their high school college counselors to explore their ideas to see how it can continue beyond high school.

High school students are juggling so much therefore being present and patient can go a long way. As adults, we need to curb our urges to provide “when I was your age” type conversations and simply listen. Learn what interests our students and their fears about life after high school;  take that information and have an open discussion. This may take multiple conversations over many months but it will be time worth spending. It is also important to remember that high school college counselors have a wealth of information and resources to support students and families so it would be beneficial to fold them into the conversation. 

Applying to college is more than just filling out a form but students truly understanding who they are and where they see themselves within their community, their family, and the world. There are many exercises out there that help students start this thought process so encourage them to meet with their high school college counselor.

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