A few weeks ago, I asked a current student to send me her story about applying ED. She wrote a lovely response that I wanted to share with you here:
Two years ago, I was in a place of incredible uncertainty regarding where I would attend college. In February of my junior year, I came to Holy Cross for an information session and tour. Holy Cross was the first campus that I visited, and I was unsure of what I was looking for in a college. After just a short visit to Holy Cross, however, I knew it was where I wanted to be. Despite all of my previous uncertainty, I felt a tangible sense of community on the Hill: students said “Hi!” to each other on their way to class, spent their free time volunteering in Worcester and other parts of the world, and supported each other in an academically rigorous environment. It was not just the beautiful campus (although that certainly did not hurt!); I felt drawn to the personal connections and the dynamic community. That is what made Holy Cross so exciting.
When I became a high school senior, I knew Holy Cross was the college that I wanted to attend. Because I was so sure, I applied Early Decision to Holy Cross. Early Decision seemed very attractive to me; if accepted, I would know where I was going by the end of that fall. ED is, however, a huge commitment. If you know Holy Cross is the school for you, then go for it! That being said, do not feel obligated to apply ED, as it is a decision for which one has to be ready. It was the right decision for me, but it is not the right decision for all.
About a month after I had submitted my application, I was deep into an American Government paper when I heard my phone ring. The caller introduced herself as a Holy Cross Admissions counselor, and I immediately worried that I had forgotten something on my application. Before I had the chance to react, the Admissions counselor told me I had been accepted to the Class of 2017! My initial confusion switched to happiness, delight, and pride. I excitedly thanked the woman on the phone a million times, and then called my family and friends to share the great news. It is a moment I will never forget.
Despite my elation, it is important to recognize how applying Early Decision impacted the rest of my senior year. Although I enrolled in Holy Cross in late December, and I felt relieved of a tremendous amount of stress regarding my college choice, I did not let this affect my academics. If anything, it inspired me to continue to prove that I belonged at Holy Cross. With that I worked to finish my senior year on a high note. If you are accepted ED, please do not let “senioritis,” “the senior slump,” or whatever you may call the lack of focus during senior year of high school get to you!
On the back of the Sader Nation T-shirts for the Class of 2018 reads the following quote, “From this point on, there is no turning back, no copping-out.” Spoken during the 1970 Commencement by Father Swords, the President of the College, these words symbolize the commitment I made to Holy Cross and my personal growth when I chose to enroll here. Never do I regret my decision to come to Holy Cross, and I believe that if you make the same commitment I did, neither will you.
(photos of Meghan by the Web Communications Team, photos of campus by Xiaofeng Wan)
