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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

This is a chance to take a hard look in the mirror and consider what the weaknesses in your application are.

So you were deferred or waitlisted…now what?

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief August 14, 2021

There’s a gray area in college admissions that you might not have thought about before — or maybe you’re painfully aware of it, hence you clicking on this article. The assumption that there are only...

This is an opportunity to put the ball back in your court and, for 650 words, tell admissions officers anything you want.

The personal essay from start to finish

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief August 2, 2021

I want to begin this section on the Common Application personal essay by telling you a story about myself, something to help you understand who I am. A stentorian clangor jolted throughout the right...

I should also mention that most schools have a way for you to send optional rec letters beyond what is required... That’s fine if the extra work will help your cause, but there’s a saying among AOs, “the thicker the file, the thicker the applicant."

A primer on letters of recommendation

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief August 2, 2021

Let’s talk about letters of recommendation, AKA the things that brought out several of my biggest fears: asking for favors and people talking about me behind my back. I’m going to compartmentalize...

You could pour your time into additional test prep, or you could devote that energy to polishing the rest of your application, writing your essays, etc. In my opinion, the latter is likely to yield a higher return on investment.

A rundown on standardized test scores

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief August 2, 2021

Let’s talk about standardized tests. In pop culture and general American discourse, they’re one of the most prominent symbols for the college admissions process. This is understandable: the SAT and...

Senior Katie Ferbet signs her national letter of intent to commit to Saint Mary’s College of California Nov. 13. Ferbet had narrowed down her decision to about three schools before she made her final choice. “Once I decided, I told the coach ‘I want to accept your offer’ and that's where I am now. I definitely felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Ferbet said.

College sports recruiting during COVID-19

Ellie West, Staff Writer January 25, 2021

The process to play college sports is a difficult one, with strict rules and limited windows of opportunity for interested students. With new cases topping 300,000 Jan. 8, the COVID-19 pandemic is the...