Intro to Applications
By eyezontheprize on
When applying to any secondary education institution, the amount of options and factors to weigh can become overwhelming.
One factor I suggest adding to the list is consulting with their accommodations office. See what they can do, or if they can put you in touch with a student at the school who can tell you how well that department works at that particular school. The harsh reality is that accommodations can make or break your college experience- ensuring they are available, that the department functions well, is so important. I know someone whose school changed directors of that department every couple months, meaning that they were constantly playing catch up and accommodations were not provided. Figuring that out early on is important.
Other than that, I would say the application process advice I can give would sound pretty generic. Make sure they have the program you want in addition to other programs for you to dip your toe in (for college). Make sure to try and get a lot of scholarships and appropriately weigh the cost versus the program versus the general vibe of the school (all). Ultimately, unless it’s Ivy or just below an Ivy, the only name recognition you get is when you’re staying in state and potentially dealing with people who went to the same school- so after the state, prioritize the money. If you’ve heard “C’s get degrees” then you should know that you get the same degree from a small state school that you do a pricey one with name recognition.
Additionally, in my actual applications, I did talk about my disability. It’s a good story, and it really centers the narrative on me. However, if you do this, make sure to say something beyond that- say something about who you are as a person, why this makes you a good fit for their program, why this motivates you, how this impacts your character, your dreams, your goals. For example, in my grad application I went from disability-> barriers-> empathy-> focus on human rights-> angry and motivated to change the world. I was also able to tie in specific academic choices I had already made in undergrad that demonstrated this connection- the story was relevant. I mention this because I caution against simply talking about a disability if that’s all you say about yourself, even though it can be a powerful story.
Best of luck!