The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Seniors Tell All: College

Maddy Tarter, Yearbook Contributor • March 4, 2025

Explaining how to request high school transcripts for the college application, college counselor Chris Lorenz leads a senior class meeting for English teacher Diana Lurkins’ AP Literature class. West High transitioned the counseling department to create a single college counselor, following in the footsteps of the other four Parkway high schools. “I love working with high school [students], coming of age, moving from being a child to an adult. I’m helping individuals through that transition, which encompasses an understanding of themselves and their passions are as they leave high school and go off to do bigger and better things,” Lorenz said.

Counseling department shifts gears

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 13, 2022

Common App. Essay Writing. ACT Optional. Applying to the college of your dreams can span months. Students don’t have to figure out this world alone. Counselors are readily available.  Dedicated to...

Seniors have a wide variety of colleges to pick from as they search for the school that is right for them.

Senior struggles with college applications during the era of COVID-19

Bri Davis, Staff Writer • December 7, 2020

“It feels like you're taking your pants off in front of a whole crowd.” That is how senior Amina Aser describes her college applications process. The fear of being vulnerable to those close to you...

Senior Umeera Farooq goes through college application papers with her parents at the dinner table. Farooq’s parents, who immigrated to America, struggled with assisting her through the application process. “My parents have not attended college, and I’m a first-generation college student,” Farooq said. “it’s gotten easier especially because I know now I’ve grown so I can help myself.”

The struggles of second-generation immigrants in the college application process

Sara Albarcha, Staff Writer • January 27, 2020

Acronyms like ACT, SAT, FAFSA and CSS are overwhelming, especially for those whose parents are non-native English speakers. For seniors Umeera Farooq and Nayeon Ryu, this is a struggle they have dealt...

Senior Salmoi Inje works on homework in the library. “I’m in debate and mock trial so I’m not really a sports person. My interests are very much academic. I want to go into Pediatrics so I’ll probably go through some pre-med track and then figure out my special later,” Inje said.

Senior Salomi Inje struggles with FAFSA as a non-U.S. citizen

Carly Anderson, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • January 10, 2018

After taking her ACT in June of 2017, senior Salomi Inje received a perfect score—a 36 out of 36. Inje was also a National Merit Semifinalist. These accomplishments should have qualified her for automatic...

Seniors Syndey Baker and Kathryn Harter attend the college fair held in the Parkway West Gymnasium on Sept. 15.

Seniors stand out in college applications

Allie Collins, Staff Writer • December 23, 2015
It is no secret that getting into the college of your dreams is now harder than ever. West’s 2015 graduates are currently attending college at 72 different institutions from Western Oregon to Eastern Florida. The tricky college admissions game is bound to trip up a few students in the process, so what can students do to stand out among the biggest pool of applicants in national history?