Guidance Counselor Can Relate to Seniors’ College Choice Struggle

By Jennifer Giri It wasn’t too long ago that Ms. Aimee Bonn was going through the college application process herself.  The only difference is that she had to fill out every application on paper rather than use the Common App, something that she said was much simpler. Most seniors in BHS are currently going through the college application process.  It comes with stress for most, and this is not only due to the work that must be done, but also the decisions that have to be made. Many college application deadlines are December 1. And December is the month when many students will begin, or have already begun, to hear whether they have been accepted not into colleges. Based on her involvement with current and past seniors, as well as her own experiences in applying to schools, Bonn has a view on this part of the year that few people do. She is one of the guidance counselors here at BHS. She talked about her experience with the application process and what lead to her final decision of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.  She stated, “I liked it online too, I had a good feeling about it, but when I got there… I think most schools look good online, and I visited a lot of schools and I liked them all, I never saw one that I hated, but I got a different feeling from Marist and I think it just was based on my personality, kind of what I was looking for… I just fell in love with the campus, with the students that were giving the tours, the students that I saw around, and I just got a good feeling from it that before I even left the campus I bought a keychain without knowing if I would even get in or not.  It really was just the feel of the campus and I think the tour guides made a big difference.” When asked what she would change about when she decided on a school, the Marist College alumna said that she wished that she put more weight on the financial aspect of her decision, saying that although she enjoyed her college experience, she wished she considered state schools like Southern Connecticut State University because it would have made such a difference financially. Bonn advised that students see schools, saying that, “It’s so important to visit the school before you make a decision.  I think it’s okay to apply without visiting but I think before you make a decision you have to visit it because things can look totally different online than they do in person.  Also, take the visit with a grain of salt.  Like if it’s raining, you might not like it as much, whereas if you saw it on a sunny day, you might like it.  So, be open-minded, but I think it’s definitely important to visit and get a real feel for the campus… and see if you could see yourself fitting in there and being happy.” Bonn conveyed that the decision is not set in stone by any means (Bonn herself changed her major after her Freshman year), but to come to the most educated and inspired decision, students really need to go visit the schools they are considering. What has been the most frustrating part of the college application and acceptance process? Share your thoughts in the comments or via Twitter @Branfordbuzz.