Applications Submitted, Finals Finished, and a Interview at Florida
After months of writing essays, tracking deadlines, and repeatedly checking application portals, I am officially done applying to college.
My original list included 29 schools, but after researching programs, reconsidering my priorities, and narrowing down my options, I ended up submitting applications to 22 colleges. The list included traditional premed programs along with several BS/DO and BS/MD opportunities.
Finishing the last application felt like lifting a huge weight off my shoulders.
Twenty-Two Applications Later
Applying to 22 schools required much more work than I originally expected. Every college seemed to ask a slightly different version of the same questions: Why this school? Why medicine? What matters to you? How will you contribute?
Even when two prompts appeared similar, the answer had to be personalized for each school. By the end, I had spent so much time writing about my experiences, values, goals, and interest in medicine that I understood myself better than I had before the process began.
Submitting the applications did not make all the nervousness disappear, but it did bring a sense of relief. At that point, the decisions were no longer in my hands. I had told my story as honestly as I could, and now I had to wait.
My Second-to-Last Finals
At the same time, I completed my second-to-last round of high school finals. It was strange realizing that after this semester, I would only have one finals season left before graduation.
Finals were still stressful, especially while balancing college applications, interviews, and regular senior-year responsibilities. However, I also noticed how much I had changed since freshman year. I understood my study habits better, knew when to ask for help, and had more experience managing pressure.
Interviewing at NSU
One of the biggest experiences of the month was traveling to Nova Southeastern University for interviews connected to its BS/DO program and the Presidential Scholarship.
The visit gave me the opportunity to experience the campus beyond what I had seen online. I was able to learn more about the program, speak with people in the university community, and imagine what it might feel like to attend school there.
Interviewing was both exciting and nerve-racking. An application allows you to revise every sentence, but an interview requires you to think in the moment and communicate who you are directly. It reminded me that confidence does not mean having a perfect answer. It means being able to explain your experiences honestly and thoughtfully and back it up with stories.
Shark Week
The visit took place during Shark Week, which made the campus feel especially energetic. Seeing the school spirit and meeting other students helped me understand the community in a way that a website or brochure never could.
January was filled with endings and beginnings. I finished my college applications, completed another round of finals, and began experiencing the interview stage of the admissions process.
Now comes the hardest part: waiting. Still, I am proud that I made it through the applications and gave each one my best effort. No matter where I eventually attend, this process has already taught me persistence, self-reflection, and how to communicate the story behind my goals.