Before you hit submit: 5 things I wish I knew before applying to ACES
It is that time of year when the deadline is approaching to submit your college application, and you feel as though you are missing something. Maybe you are unsure of whether your personal essay will effectively make that impact on whoever reads it, or you don’t know if you want to be tied down for four years to your first-choice major. The good news is that I’m here — as a first-year student who just went through this! — to help you take some stress off your shoulders with what I wish I had known before applying to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Whether you are an incoming freshman or transfer student, there is a piece of advice here that can help you in this application season.
1. The ACES undergraduate admissions staff are here to help you.
Even though it is easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the tasks that this process can include, the College of ACES Undergraduate Admissions Staff has your back. Before I submitted my application, I visited U. of I. two times and met with this team of individuals who helped me to explore all this college has to offer. My biggest question was whether to report my SAT scores, but they provided me with insightful information to help me make my decision — which I did in the end! You can reach the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by email at admissions@illinois.edu. Remember that they are always a phone call, email, or visit away with support and guidance whenever you need it!
2. You can always change your major.
If your biggest worry is that you will not be able to change your major, I am here to squash that fear. Your first or second-choice major that you choose does not mean you have to stick with it for all four years of school. College students change their majors to pursue their perfect careers. Advisors and staff within ACES are always here to help you figure out what you want to do with your major. At the end of the day, choose what interests and motivates you to pursue your future dreams. Or if you are like me, you can choose to double major and get the best of both worlds if you’re having trouble deciding!
3. You are not alone.
While it may seem like others around you have their applications submitted and are ahead of you in the process, this is not the case. I felt so overwhelmed by the thought of finding one school that fit my “ideal college” in my mind, until I took a tour of ACES. Everyone on this tour was doing the same thing as me: they were trying to decide if this school was the one. For me it was, and I hope it is for you, too. Break up your tasks into smaller chunks and do one at a time, instead of cramming them all together at once. Always remember that there are 60,000 other students here who went through the same hectic, but rewarding, process.
4. Your personal essay should be personal.
When writing your personal essay, make sure it reflects who you truly are as a person. It should be something that matters to you and is able to show someone reading it the true individual that you are. I restarted my personal essay three times until it was authentic to me. By the third time, it was honest and allowed the person reading it to get to know me for who I was. Here at ACES, our students are passionate about what they love, true to themselves, and motivated to make changes for the better. Allow your personal essay to translate the positivity, curiosity, and hard work that you bring to the table.
5. Do not be afraid to ask questions
I understand the feeling when the tour guide asks if there are any questions and your mind is swimming in thoughts, concerns, and what you should say. You keep your head low and hand down because you don’t want to ask the question that you think is dumb. I promise you, it’s not. By voicing your worries, you can unlock a door into the path of knowledge that can allow you to feel more confident when you hit that submit button. At the College of ACES, we are here to help you in any way possible to bring you to be a part of our family, and that can start with any questions you have.
Whether you are reading this right before you submit your application or you haven’t started yet, I hope you can feel more courageous about applying for ACES. Being a student at U. of I. can help you unlock your potential and discover what your future holds. Know that there are people here who want to help you and know that you are not alone — and I hope that you hit the accept button in the spring to join us at the College of ACES next year!