The Pebble Issue 1

features
Respect Your Elders
Current seniors give advice to the Class of 2017
Story and graphic by Sam Goldman
Visit one of the junior class meetings at
MPH, and the sense of urgency in the
soon-to-be seniors’ voices is obvious.
Each student at MPH is uniquely different,
but something on everyone’s mind is applying
to college.
College is especially alarming to the Class
of 2017 in part because of the newly formatted
SAT. This raises questions regarding its
difficulty and scoring system, and adds itself
to the already large list of daunting senior
tasks. Do I have a “good” SAT score? Will
they accept me? How can I get into the college
of my choice?
The shift between junior and senior year
is the most important one in high school.
Though seniors set high expectations and
worry about their future, one senior offers
advice all juniors should take to heart.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t feel like you aren’t
worth it and that you aren’t going to get anywhere,
because everyone is a smart person,”
said senior Dorothea Hamblin.
Be confident, and get off to an early
start. While summer is normally for rest
and relaxation, for high-school juniors, it’s
quite the opposite. Summer is a crucial time
to improve the chances of getting into the
college of your choice by broadening your
knowledge. Do this by attending a summer
camp that suits your interests. Some colleges,
like Princeton, have asked prospective students
to list what they’ve done their previous
two summers. Whether it’s a camp dedicated
to aerospace engineering or pogo sticking,
there’s something out there for everyone.
“Going to a summer camp is very beneficial
because it shows colleges what your goals
are,” said senior Amina Gingold, who attended
camps for photography and film. “It shows
that you’re actually doing something, as
opposed to sitting on the couch all summer.”
Getting a job can be equally helpful.
Holding a job shows colleges your maturity
and responsibility, and also puts money in
your pockets and gas in your tank.
“I would definitely get a paid job and
then do something that you’re interested in,
because colleges like to see that,” said senior
Cady Ridall. “Also, it’s fun to do something
that you like.”
Community service is another thing
students can do and an area more and more
colleges are starting to value. But don’t try
to become someone who you are not. You
shouldn’t partake in community service, or
anything else for that matter, unless it”s
something that interests you.
“Do something meaningful to you and
perhaps your family,” said Will Cardamone,
MPH’s Director of College Counseling.
Additionally, the overwhelming advice
from the senior class regarding academics
and college applications is to start early.
Whether it’s your summer assignments or
the Common App, don’t procrastinate. Doing
some of the work at the end of junior year,
and even over the summer can alleviate the
stress that comes with being a senior.
The most daunting and time-consuming
part of the college application process is the
Common Application, aka the Common App.
The Common App is a generic application
that many colleges now accept. With it, you
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