Devon Blog

Author: devon

  • Turning My Passion for Activism Into a Compelling Application

    By Maya Torres (Not her real name), Future Political Science Major

    When I started preparing my college applications, I had no idea how to turn my passion for activism into something that would set me apart from the countless other applicants vying for the same spot. I knew I had a strong commitment to making the world a better place, but how could I communicate that on paper? How could I show admissions officers that my activism wasn’t just a passing interest, but a deeply ingrained part of who I was?

    I am Maya Torres, and what I realized during my application process was that the most important thing I could do was to frame my activism in a way that highlighted both my impact and personal growth. Whether I was protesting for environmental justice or leading discussions about social justice in my community, these experiences gave me the chance to craft a narrative that was truly my own.

    From Small Local Actions to a Bigger Vision

    For most of my life, activism was something that started in my neighborhood. I grew up in a working-class, predominantly Hispanic community in Texas, where the issues we faced — from access to healthcare to clean drinking water — were things I’d seen up close and personal. I wasn’t just passionate about these issues because they were relevant to me as a student; I was passionate because they were directly affecting people I loved.

    But my journey into activism didn’t start with large-scale movements or protests. It started with small, localized actions. I worked with a local environmental group, organizing beach cleanups and educational workshops for elementary school students. These were the kinds of activities I loved to be a part of, but I struggled to see how these experiences could stand out in my college application. That is, until I began talking to a peer advisor (who asked me to call him Omar, though that’s not his real name), who helped me figure out how to connect my personal growth with the work I had been doing.

    Omar pointed out that what colleges were looking for wasn’t just a checklist of activities or a collection of causes I cared about. They wanted to see how these experiences had shaped me. That was the turning point for me.

    Finding My Voice and Making an Impact

    Once I started looking at my activism from this perspective, I realized that each campaign I had worked on, whether for environmental justice or against racial discrimination, had helped me develop essential leadership and communication skills. I had learned how to organize events, work with diverse teams, and communicate messages to people with varying levels of understanding. But more importantly, I had found my voice — not just as an advocate, but as a leader.

    One of the most pivotal moments came when I organized a community meeting about the dangers of pollution in our area. I wasn’t just leading a discussion; I was rallying people to act. I helped them understand the science behind the issue, and together we launched a letter-writing campaign to city officials demanding better regulations. The results were powerful. We succeeded in securing funding for a new waste management program, and I learned how to effectively mobilize others around a common goal.

    When I sat down to write my personal statement, I used this experience as the core of my narrative. Instead of just describing the project, I focused on how it had transformed me. I wrote about how I had started as an unsure teenager, unsure of how to engage with my community, and how through activism, I had found a way to not only speak up but also lead others. This was the key to turning my activism into a compelling application.

    Connecting Passion with Purpose

    One thing that I found especially important was linking my passion for activism to my future academic and career goals. I knew that pursuing a political science degree would allow me to continue advocating for change on a broader scale. I made sure to connect the lessons I had learned in my community work to my long-term aspirations — to be a leader in social justice, public policy, and environmental advocacy.

    My application also reflected my desire to further refine the skills I had developed through activism, such as policy analysis, public speaking, and coalition-building. I demonstrated how these were not just passions of mine but essential tools I would need to make a lasting impact in society.

    I also made sure to highlight the diversity of my activism. While many applicants might focus on a singular cause, I wanted to show that I was versatile in my activism. From climate change protests to volunteering with immigrants’ rights groups, I had a breadth of experiences that proved I was adaptable and deeply invested in issues that impacted marginalized communities.

    The Role of My Peer Advisor

    I cannot overstate how much of an impact Omar (the peer advisor) had on my application. When I first started the process, I didn’t think my activism would be enough to make me stand out. But Omar showed me how to reframe my story. He taught me to look beyond the surface of my extracurricular activities and ask myself, “How have these experiences changed me? What have I learned? And how can I use this to create a vision for my future?”

    Omar also helped me refine my narrative. It wasn’t enough to just describe what I had done. I had to focus on why it mattered, how it shaped my worldview, and how it tied into the kind of student and leader I hoped to become. His guidance allowed me to present my passion for activism in a way that showcased my growth, leadership, and vision for the future.

    The Outcome: A College Application That Felt True to Me

    When I submitted my applications, I felt a sense of peace. I knew that I had told my story authentically. The process of turning my activism into a compelling narrative didn’t just help me get into the college of my dreams — it also helped me realize that my passion for advocacy wasn’t just a college application strategy; it was my purpose. It was a way of life, and it would continue to shape me throughout my academic journey and beyond.

    So, to anyone out there wondering how to make their passion for activism stand out in their college application, remember: It’s not just about what you do — it’s about what you learn from it and how you share that with others. Let your story reflect your growth and your vision, and above all, let it show who you are at your core.

  • STEM, Startups, and Summer Programs: Crafting a Story That Stands Out

    By Michael Tran, Future Engineering Major

    Applying to college as a high school student is never easy, but for those of us passionate about STEM, there’s an extra layer of complexity. You’re not just trying to stand out academically — you’re trying to show your future school that you’re capable of contributing to cutting-edge technology, solving real-world problems, and driving innovation. And when it comes to crafting an application that stands out, nothing can be more impactful than real-world experience. For me, that meant diving into summer programs and internships with startups.

    Here’s how my summer experiences shaped my application and helped me tell a story that made me stand out to admissions committees.

    The Power of Hands-On Experience

    It’s one thing to take advanced math or science courses in school, but it’s another to apply those concepts in the real world. Early on in my high school career, I knew I wanted to study something like engineering or computer science, but I wasn’t sure how to show that interest in a way that would catch the eye of admissions officers.

    That’s when I stumbled upon a summer program at a local tech startup. It wasn’t a prestigious program, and it didn’t offer college credit or certifications. But what it did offer was invaluable — real experience. I spent six weeks helping a small team of engineers design a new app interface. I was learning firsthand about the intersection of technology and user experience, and that experience helped me develop a much deeper understanding of the field.

    Working in a startup also exposed me to the daily challenges that entrepreneurs face. I was able to see how quickly things could change, how flexibility and problem-solving were crucial in an environment where there was no room for complacency.

    Making My Summer Program Work for My Application

    When it came time to write my college essays, I realized I could turn that summer internship experience into a compelling story. But it wasn’t just about listing the technical skills I had learned — it was about showcasing how that summer program had shaped me as an individual.

    I wrote about how I entered the program as a student interested in tech but unsure of what that looked like in a professional context. By the end of the summer, I had developed new skills, learned how to work in a fast-paced team, and found new ways to solve problems under pressure. But most importantly, I was able to highlight how the program confirmed my desire to pursue a STEM field.

    When crafting the narrative for my personal statement, I didn’t focus solely on the technical aspects. Instead, I framed the story around growth — how I went from being a student in a classroom, learning theory, to someone who could apply that theory to create something real. That transition from theory to practice became the backbone of my essay.

    The Importance of Storytelling

    What I learned is that the key to a strong application is not just listing accomplishments but telling a story that connects those accomplishments to your larger goals. For example, I didn’t just talk about how I helped design an app interface. I explained how that experience sparked my passion for engineering and cemented my desire to work at the intersection of technology and user experience. I also described how I wanted to bring that hands-on, problem-solving mindset to my college studies and beyond.

    I also worked to connect my summer program experience to my future aspirations. I didn’t want to just be another applicant with a “cool summer internship” — I wanted my admissions officers to see that this was a stepping stone on my path to becoming an engineer who could create tech that improves lives. That meant emphasizing how the startup experience pushed me to think creatively, to collaborate effectively, and to approach challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset.

    Why STEM Students Need Startup Experience

    In my experience, startup internships and summer programs aren’t just great for building technical skills; they also give you an opportunity to learn how to fail and how to learn from those failures. Startups are all about rapid iteration and testing new ideas. It’s common to try something that doesn’t work, learn from it, and pivot. That’s a valuable lesson for anyone entering a STEM field, where failure is often the first step toward success.

    Plus, working in a startup allowed me to see the true scope of innovation. A single idea could transform into a product that would eventually reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people. This scale of impact was eye-opening and gave me a deeper sense of purpose in pursuing STEM.

    Don’t Forget the Soft Skills

    While it’s important to showcase your technical abilities, I also realized that startup environments test and develop your soft skills — collaboration, communication, leadership, and problem-solving. I made sure to highlight these in my application, as they are often overlooked by students focused on technical accomplishments alone.

    In my application, I discussed how working in a small team required clear communication and how I learned to take initiative, sometimes stepping up to lead a task or brainstorm a solution. These experiences helped me grow both as a student and as a person, and I made sure that came across in my personal statement.

    The Outcome: From Passion to Purpose

    When I finally received my college acceptance letter, it felt like the culmination of everything I had worked for. But what truly made me proud was that my summer program experiences had played a major role in shaping who I was as an applicant. I had demonstrated not only my passion for STEM but also my ability to apply what I learned, my commitment to personal growth, and my willingness to challenge myself.

    As I prepare to start my college journey, I know that the experiences I had in those summer programs and internships will continue to shape my future career. The most important lesson I learned throughout the process is that no experience, no matter how small, is insignificant when it comes to telling your story. By taking part in those programs, I didn’t just gain knowledge — I gained a story that is uniquely mine.

  • From a Small Town to a Big Name School: The Peer Advice That Got Me There

    By Isabella Hernandez, College Freshman

    I’ve always been proud of my small-town roots. Growing up in a community where everyone knew everyone else’s business, I learned early on the importance of relationships, hard work, and staying grounded. But when it came to applying to college, I felt out of my depth. I had big dreams — dreams of attending a top university where I could pursue a career in law — but I wasn’t sure how to get there. How do you go from a town where the most exciting thing is the annual fair to a school with a global reputation?

    The answer came from an unexpected place: a peer advisor.

    The Struggle of Not Knowing Where to Start

    When I first started thinking about college applications, I was completely overwhelmed. I had good grades, a solid academic record, and I was involved in extracurricular activities like the debate team and volunteering at the local shelter. But I didn’t have the right connections, and I certainly didn’t know how to navigate the complex world of college admissions.

    I would scroll through university websites, unsure of which school would be the best fit. The whole process felt like a foreign language. Essays, SAT scores, recommendations… where did I even start?

    I needed guidance, but I didn’t have the resources I needed. My high school counselor was helpful but had many students to manage, and honestly, I felt like just another face in the crowd. I knew I needed someone who could help me think strategically, someone who understood the ins and outs of college admissions — someone who had been there before.

    The Peer Advisor Who Changed Everything

    Then, I met Sarah, a senior at my school who had been through the admissions process the year before. She was known for her success in getting into one of the top universities in the country, and I was lucky enough to be paired with her as part of a peer advising program at our school.

    Sarah’s advice was a game-changer. The first thing she told me was, “Don’t just apply to schools because they look good on paper. Apply to places where you’ll thrive, where you’ll fit in with both the academic and social environment.” This might sound simple, but at the time, it completely shifted how I thought about college applications. Instead of just aiming for a big name school, I started thinking about what kind of environment I wanted to be in.

    She taught me that the essay isn’t just a chance to tell your story — it’s a chance to showcase who you are beyond the grades and activities. We worked together to refine my personal statement, highlighting not just my achievements but also the personal experiences that shaped me: how growing up in a small town taught me resilience and community, and how my passion for law was inspired by the injustices I’d seen in my own town.

    The Importance of Authenticity in Your Application

    One of the best pieces of advice Sarah gave me was to remain authentic in my application. “Colleges want to see who you are as a person,” she said. “They don’t just want a robot who’s perfect on paper. They want someone who has depth, someone who can bring a unique perspective to their campus.”

    That stuck with me. So many applicants focus on presenting a “perfect” image, but I realized that my authenticity — my small-town background, my love for my community, and my ambition to make a difference — could be my strength. I stopped trying to fit into a mold I thought colleges wanted and started being myself.

    Learning to Prioritize Time and Stress Management

    The other thing Sarah helped me with was time management. The college application process can be incredibly stressful, and I was quickly falling behind on deadlines. She told me about how she managed the stress of applications and helped me create a calendar to break down each part of the process into manageable steps.

    She also introduced me to meditation and mindfulness techniques that helped calm my nerves and stay focused during crunch time. These small tips had a huge impact, and I didn’t feel as overwhelmed as I might have otherwise.

    Building Confidence Through Peer Advice

    Another piece of advice that Sarah gave me was about confidence. “You have to believe in yourself, especially when the process feels tough,” she said. “You’ve already done the hard work — now trust that you belong.” This advice stuck with me through every essay draft, every interview, and every late-night study session. I began to realize that I wasn’t just a small-town girl with big dreams — I was someone with real potential, and I had earned the right to apply to top-tier schools.

    Her encouragement helped me to see my own worth. When it came time to submit my applications, I didn’t just send in a set of forms and essays. I sent in a piece of myself — my story, my journey, and my future aspirations.

    The Result: From a Small Town to a Big Name School

    When I finally got the acceptance letter from the university I had dreamed of attending, it was an emotional moment. I felt like I had crossed a huge milestone, not just in my academic journey, but in my personal growth. Sarah had helped me not only refine my application but also see the strength I had in my own story.

    Reflecting on my experience, I realize that the peer advising process was the key to unlocking my potential. The advice I received from Sarah went beyond what was in my application. She taught me how to look at challenges with a mindset of growth, how to prioritize my well-being, and how to bring my true self into every part of the process.

    Now, as I prepare to start this new chapter at my dream school, I carry with me the lessons I learned from Sarah — and I’m excited to pay it forward as a peer mentor myself, helping the next generation of students find their own way.

  • Applying as a Student-Athlete: Advice From Someone Who Lived It

    By Jordan Matthews, Student-Athlete and College Freshman

    I remember the day I decided I wanted to play basketball at the collegiate level. It wasn’t a sudden revelation. For years, I’d spent countless hours perfecting my game, dreaming about the day I’d be able to take my passion from high school courts to a college arena. But once I got serious about the application process, I quickly realized that being a student-athlete means balancing a lot more than just practice and games. It’s about managing your time, your priorities, and making sure you stand out both as an athlete and as a student.

    I want to share my experience applying as a student-athlete because it’s not an easy road. Here’s what I wish I had known going into it.

    Start Early — The Recruiting Process is a Marathon

    One of the biggest lessons I learned was that recruiting isn’t something you can rush. I thought I could just focus on my game and hope for the best. But the reality is, coaches start looking at athletes as early as freshman year. The earlier you start, the better your chances.

    When I started my junior year, I began reaching out to coaches. I emailed them my highlight reel, stats, and academic performance, and kept them updated on my progress. In hindsight, I wish I had started even earlier. Coaches are busy, and it’s a competitive process. They want to know you’re serious, not just about sports but also about your academics and character.

    Balance is Everything — Don’t Neglect Your Studies

    This was by far the hardest part for me. As a student-athlete, you can’t afford to let one area slip, whether it’s sports or your grades. But it’s easy to focus on athletics and assume your grades will take care of themselves.

    For example, I remember my sophomore year, when basketball season was in full swing. I was exhausted after practice and games, and my math homework started piling up. The temptation to skip assignments and cram before exams was huge, but I learned quickly that neglecting my studies wasn’t an option. The colleges I was targeting had academic standards that were just as demanding as the athletic ones.

    In fact, a coach may want you on their team, but if your grades aren’t up to par, you won’t get in. So I learned to manage my time by creating a schedule where I dedicated specific blocks of time for schoolwork and sports. I didn’t always get it right, but the discipline helped me stay on track.

    The Personal Statement: Show Them Who You Are

    When I started writing my personal statement for college applications, I thought it would be all about basketball — my skills, achievements, and what I could bring to the team. But when I started drafting, I realized something important: the personal statement is your chance to show the admissions team who you are beyond your athletic abilities.

    I wrote about how basketball had shaped me, yes, but also how it had taught me about resilience, teamwork, leadership, and time management. I spoke about challenges I’d overcome, both on and off the court, and how those experiences had shaped my character. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about how the sport had influenced my life in meaningful ways.

    I also talked about how I planned to balance my athletic commitments with academic pursuits. Being a student-athlete isn’t just about playing a sport — it’s about managing multiple responsibilities, and that’s a huge part of who I am as a person. In the end, I believe that’s what made my application stand out.

    Be Realistic About What You Can Handle

    I won’t sugarcoat it: applying as a student-athlete is tough. You’re balancing recruitment calls, applying to schools, and dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of waiting for responses. But you also have to be realistic about what you can handle, both in terms of academics and sports. I had to be honest with myself about which schools were a good fit, both academically and athletically.

    As much as I wanted to play Division I basketball, I knew that the commitment would be intense, and I wasn’t sure I could juggle that with my academic goals. So I looked at Division II and III schools, which still offered great athletic programs, but with a more balanced approach to student life. This was one of the best decisions I made, as it allowed me to compete at a high level while also thriving in my studies.

    Expect the Unexpected — And Be Ready to Adapt

    Finally, the most important thing I learned in the process was to be flexible. The recruitment process, the admissions process, and the transition to college can all throw curveballs your way. I thought I had everything planned out, but I had to adapt when my first-choice school didn’t offer me a spot on the team. Instead of getting discouraged, I focused on my next best option and embraced it with the same passion.

    At the end of the day, your path might not look exactly as you envisioned, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the right path for you. Keep working hard, stay focused on your goals, and remember that being a student-athlete is about more than just playing a sport. It’s about managing time, building resilience, and growing as an individual. You’ll learn a lot about yourself along the way.

    Take the Leap

    If you’re a student-athlete thinking about college applications, take a deep breath and start early. The process may feel overwhelming, but it’s an incredible opportunity to shape your future. And remember: don’t just focus on being a great athlete, focus on being a great student, leader, and person. Those qualities will get you further than you might think.

    Find a peer advisor at Pathways, our community has someone who is just like you, has done it and can walk you through the process.

  • How I Went from Student to Peer Advisor: The Journey That Changed Everything

    By Amanda Lee, Peer Advisor

    When I first started college, I had no idea what to expect. The sheer volume of information coming at me — from deadlines to professors to course material — was overwhelming. I struggled with self-doubt, and I often felt like I was barely treading water. Then I found myself talking to a peer advisor, someone who’d been in my shoes just a year earlier. That conversation shifted my entire college experience.

    I never imagined that one day, I’d be the person offering that same guidance to other students. But that’s how it started — a conversation that changed my perspective, and eventually, my path.

    When I became a peer advisor, I had no idea how rewarding it would be. I thought the job would be simple — offer advice, help with basic questions, and guide others through the college maze. But what I discovered was something much more profound: it was about creating connections, offering empathy, and being someone who could help others see beyond their immediate struggles.

    The Power of a Peer Advisor

    The first time I helped a student with their registration process, I had an “aha” moment. She was a freshman, wide-eyed and stressed out about choosing courses. She had questions about prerequisites, about balancing workloads, about whether she was even on the right track. I remember being in her shoes not long ago, when I had to navigate that same uncertainty.

    In that moment, I didn’t just offer answers; I gave her something more. I shared my own experience — how I struggled with choosing courses in my first year and how I later learned the importance of balancing academic and personal growth. By just listening and guiding her through it, I helped her see that she wasn’t alone. The anxiety about registration wasn’t a crisis, but just one of many small steps toward a bigger picture.

    That’s when it hit me: being a peer advisor was about so much more than answering questions. It was about being a source of support in a space where students often feel isolated.

    Navigating the College Experience

    What made the experience even more meaningful for me was seeing the bigger picture. As a peer advisor, I didn’t just offer academic advice; I became a sounding board for students navigating their own self-doubts, social challenges, and the pressure to perform. College isn’t just about coursework — it’s about figuring out who you are, building resilience, and learning how to adapt. And I learned this first-hand as I helped others.

    For example, I helped one student who was struggling with homesickness and isolation. She had just moved to the U.S. from a small town in India, and the cultural differences were overwhelming. She was anxious about making friends and fitting in. I shared my own experiences as an international student and how I struggled with similar feelings when I first arrived. I told her it’s okay to feel out of place and that it’s a process — one where every small step counts. By the end of our conversation, she was more at ease. We even found an on-campus cultural club that she could join to meet people with similar experiences. That’s the power of peer advising — it’s not just about solving a problem; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging.

    What I Wish Students Knew About Peer Advisors

    Looking back, there are a few things I wish more students knew about peer advising:

    1. We’ve Been There. Peer advisors are not just here to “tell you what to do.” We’ve walked the same path and faced the same challenges. We’ve had to navigate the confusion of choosing courses, handling stress, and finding a community. We understand because we’ve been in your shoes.
    2. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out. So many students come to us feeling like they’re failing because they haven’t figured out their career path or what they want to study. But trust me, most of us didn’t figure it all out in our first year. It’s okay to take time to explore and find what resonates with you.
    3. It’s Okay to Ask for Help. You don’t have to go through college alone. There’s no shame in reaching out for help. Whether it’s about course selection, adjusting to campus life, or finding your career path, we’re here to help you navigate it. We can’t give you all the answers, but we can help you find your way.
    4. It’s a Two-Way Relationship. Being a peer advisor isn’t just about me giving advice — it’s also about learning from the students I help. Every conversation offers me new perspectives and insights, and I get to grow too. It’s a mutual exchange that benefits both the advisor and the student.

    Why I Keep Doing It

    Why do I continue being a peer advisor, even after I’ve gotten the advice I needed? Because I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has on both students and myself. The connections I’ve made, the students I’ve helped, and the lessons I’ve learned — they’ve shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined.

    If you’re a student who’s struggling, or even just wondering if you’re on the right track, don’t hesitate to reach out to a peer advisor. We’re here for more than just answering questions — we’re here to help you feel seen, heard, and supported. The journey might be tough, but you don’t have to walk it alone.

  • How My Immigrant Background Became My Admissions Superpower

    By Linh Tran (not his real name), First-Generation Vietnamese-American Student

    When I started my college applications, I was convinced I needed to erase parts of myself.

    I didn’t grow up speaking English at home. My parents fled Vietnam after the war and never finished high school. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the back of my uncle’s bakery, where the smell of bánh mì and fresh dough became part of my childhood. I worked the counter after school, folded egg rolls on weekends, and translated letters from the bank for my parents at age 13.

    None of that felt like something colleges wanted to hear.

    So at first, I tried to sound like a “typical” American student. I focused on my AP classes, my science fair award, my internship at a local lab. I wrote drafts of my personal statement about wanting to become a doctor — not because I didn’t mean it, but because it felt like what I was supposed to say.

    But it all felt flat. Generic. Like I was writing someone else’s story.

    Everything changed the day I connected with a peer coach — someone who’d been through the same journey and was now thriving at a competitive university. Her name was Naomi, a Cambodian-American student who grew up in a neighborhood not so different from mine. She asked me one question that turned everything upside down: “What are you proud of that has nothing to do with school?”

    I told her about helping my mom sew reusable masks during the pandemic, and how I set up an online ordering form using Google Sheets so the neighbors could safely get groceries from our bakery. I told her about how I started a YouTube channel to teach Vietnamese kids how to pronounce tricky English sounds, because I knew the embarrassment of being laughed at when you mispronounce “pizza” as “pita.”

    Naomi smiled and said, “That’s leadership. That’s initiative. That’s resilience. Why wouldn’t you lead with that?”

    For the first time, I saw my background not as a burden to hide, but as evidence of character.

    She helped me revise my essays — not just for grammar or style, but for authenticity. I wrote about the pressure of being the oldest daughter in an immigrant family, the unspoken expectations to succeed, and how that fueled my drive — not just to achieve, but to represent. I wrote about the balancing act of two cultures, of growing up watching Vietnamese dramas and Grey’s Anatomy in the same night, and how it shaped the way I think, adapt, and connect.

    More importantly, she helped me rethink how I presented myself. I didn’t have to apologize for not having fancy summer programs or a polished resume. I had something else: lived experience. And that mattered.

    When the acceptance emails started arriving — from schools I didn’t even dare to dream of six months earlier — I realized something powerful: being a first-generation immigrant didn’t hold me back. It propelled me forward.

    Now, as a first-year college student, I’ve started volunteering as a peer advisor myself. I work with students from Burmese, Laotian, Hmong, and Filipino families — each with their own versions of my story. I remind them what I had to learn the hard way: your background isn’t a liability. It’s a lens. It gives you insight, empathy, and drive that no test score can measure.

    So if you’re like me — if you’re navigating college apps with one foot in your family’s culture and one foot in a system that was never designed with you in mind — here’s what I want you to know:

    Your story is enough. Your experience is valid. And your voice deserves to be heard.

    Because what I once saw as obstacles were actually the qualities that got me here — and they might just be your superpower too.

  • What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My College Apps

    By Aanya S., Student and First-Gen US College Applicant

    If I could go back and have one honest conversation with my junior-year self, it would start with this: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

    When I began the college application process, I thought it was just about writing essays and submitting scores. I didn’t know that the hardest part wasn’t the paperwork — it was the planning, the second-guessing, and the self-doubt that crept in when I was supposed to be making the biggest decision of my life.

    No one in my family had gone to college in the U.S., and though my parents wanted the best for me, they couldn’t help me figure out FAFSA or the difference between Early Action and Regular Decision. At school, the guidance counselor was juggling over 400 students. It wasn’t her fault, but I felt invisible.

    That changed the day I met Joanna, a peer advisor a year ahead of me. She’d been through it all — late nights with the Common App, FAFSA errors, agonizing over which extracurriculars to highlight — and more importantly, she got me. She spoke my language, literally and figuratively. She wasn’t trying to dazzle me with stats or throw acronyms at me. She asked me simple questions like, “What makes you feel most alive?” and “If a college said yes to you, what kind of place would it be?”

    I didn’t know it then, but what she was doing was coaching — not advising in a formal sense, but helping me uncover what mattered to me, what made me unique. Together, we mapped out a timeline. We talked about how to approach my essays — not with a strategy to impress, but as a way to tell my story. She helped me understand what colleges were actually looking for: authenticity, clarity, and a sense of purpose.

    Looking back, here are five things I wish someone had told me before I started:

    1. Your application is not just a form — it’s your story.
      I treated it like a job application at first, checking boxes and trying to sound impressive. But admissions officers aren’t hiring you — they’re inviting you into a community. They want to know who you are when nobody’s watching.
    2. Deadlines are only the tip of the iceberg.
      There are internal deadlines too: when to ask for rec letters, when to draft your essays, when to take a step back and reevaluate your list. Having a calendar with built-in breathing room saved me.
    3. You will second-guess yourself — that’s normal.
      I rewrote my personal statement three times. I wondered if I should’ve joined one more club or taken one more AP. But I learned that clarity beats quantity. It’s better to go deep than wide.
    4. Help is out there, but you have to reach for it.
      Whether it’s a peer coach, a teacher, or someone who went through the process recently, talking to someone who’s walked the path before can change everything. They know the hidden stressors, the unspoken fears, and the little hacks that make a big difference.
    5. Celebrate the small wins.
      Every finished essay, every submitted app, every time I pressed “save” on a draft — those were victories. Don’t wait until an acceptance letter to feel proud.

    Now that I’m in college, I volunteer as a peer advisor myself. When students come to me panicked about their applications, I tell them what Joanna told me: Start with your voice. That’s what they want to hear.

    The college process isn’t just a rite of passage — it’s an awakening. And while it’s messy and overwhelming, it can also be transformative when you’re not doing it alone.

    If you’re about to begin, remember this: You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be honest — and open to support. You’re building your future, and you deserve all the help you can get.

  • How Peer Advising Helped Me Choose the Right Early Decision School

    I remember staring at a spreadsheet with ten colleges on it—each with different programs, deadlines, and vibes—and thinking, How am I supposed to know which one to choose for Early Decision? My school counselor was helpful with logistics, but the person who actually helped me decide was a peer advisor from Pathways.

    She wasn’t just a name on a website. She had applied to the same schools I was considering. She had wrestled with the same trade-offs. She had lived through the same pressure of making the “right call.” Talking to her felt like a flashlight in a very confusing tunnel.

    Why Early Decision Felt Like a Gamble

    I knew Early Decision (ED) could increase my chances. The acceptance rates are almost always higher for ED applicants. But locking yourself into a binding decision before you even see other offers? That’s nerve-wracking.

    I wasn’t choosing between clear winners and losers. I had to pick between amazing options: a top liberal arts college with an intimate campus vibe, a research-driven Ivy League university, and a rising tech-focused school with a full scholarship possibility. I had good grades, a 1550 SAT, strong extracurriculars, and a couple of statewide awards. But I didn’t have clarity.

    My Peer Advisor Had Been There—Literally

    The peer advisor I booked through Pathways had applied ED to one of the schools on my list and had gotten in. She was a sophomore now, thriving in the program I was interested in. But she wasn’t just pitching her school. She walked me through her decision matrix—how she compared departments, faculty accessibility, financial aid, campus culture, and career placement data. She told me what she got wrong in her own thinking and what she would’ve done differently.

    That hour-long consultation was more valuable than weeks of Googling.

    The Personal Details That Mattered

    She pointed out things I hadn’t found on Reddit or College Confidential:

    • Which departments were stretched thin and which were getting new funding.
    • What “fit” meant beyond buzzwords—like how introverted students felt at different campuses.
    • How her ED acceptance came with specific scholarship stipulations I hadn’t considered.

    She even shared her actual “Why [School]?” essay, which helped me tighten the focus on mine.

    What Really Helped Me Decide

    The breakthrough moment came when she asked:

    “If none of your friends or family ever knew what school you went to, which one would you still be excited to attend?”

    That’s when I realized I was leaning toward the flashier names for the wrong reasons. The school I ultimately chose—my ED school—had the tight-knit community, academic freedom, and project-based learning I really wanted. I just hadn’t given myself permission to see it as my first choice until that conversation.

    SEO Keywords We Hit Along the Way

    If you’re reading this, maybe you’re searching:

    • “How to choose an Early Decision college”
    • “Does Early Decision increase your chances”
    • “Is Early Decision binding”
    • “How to get college advising from students”
    • “Should I apply Early Decision or Regular Decision”

    I typed those same phrases. And while articles helped, nothing compared to hearing it from someone just a couple of years ahead of me.

    The Confidence to Commit

    I hit submit on my Early Decision application two weeks later. I felt nervous, but also oddly calm. I knew I wasn’t choosing based on prestige or pressure. I was choosing based on insight. I got in. And today, I help others through the same process—as a peer advisor myself.

    Final Thought

    Choosing an Early Decision school is one of the most consequential steps in the college application process. Having a peer who’s done it recently, who knows the schools intimately, and who can speak with both honesty and empathy—that’s a game changer.

    If you’re standing at that fork in the road, wondering which path to lock in early, talk to someone who’s walked both. It just might change everything.

  • The Value of Recent Experience in Navigating Today’s Admissions Landscape

    If you had asked me two years ago whether I’d be helping other students apply to college, I probably would’ve laughed. At the time, I was neck-deep in personal statements, debating whether to go test-optional, and losing sleep over what extracurriculars truly “stood out.” Fast forward to today—I’ve gotten into one of the most competitive universities in the country, and now I guide students just like I was not long ago. I’m what Pathways calls a peer advisor, and here’s the thing: when it comes to navigating today’s college admissions landscape, recency matters more than most people realize.

    The College Admissions Game Has Changed—Fast

    Let’s be honest. The rules of college admissions have shifted dramatically even in just the last 2–3 years. Test-optional policies, new FAFSA rollouts, evolving essay prompts, changing holistic review practices—it’s a moving target. And traditional college counselors, even the really good ones, often don’t have a front-row seat to the latest nuances.

    I lived through applying during COVID-era disruptions, the rise of test-blind schools, and trying to decipher how colleges were recalibrating GPA evaluations. I had to make decisions without precedent—do I still take the SAT even though my dream school doesn’t require it? Should I submit an optional video portfolio? How do I make up for a year of canceled volunteering?

    Because I faced these exact dilemmas, I can give real, practical advice that’s grounded in firsthand experience.

    Real Stories > Hypotheticals

    A lot of students I work with tell me their school counselor gave them a checklist or a spreadsheet of deadlines. Helpful? Sure. But when you’re deciding whether to write your Common App personal statement about a deeply personal experience or a quirky passion, you don’t want theoretical frameworks. You want to hear from someone who actually wrote essays that worked—someone who’s been on both sides of the accept/reject line.

    When I share my story about how I structured my “overcoming adversity” essay, or why I cut out two AP classes from my senior year to focus on research, students listen. Because it’s not just advice—it’s lived truth, tested in a real-world admissions gauntlet.

    The Edge of Peer Advising

    Working with a peer advisor means tapping into fresh, tactical insights that most traditional advising models don’t offer. For example:

    • I can show screenshots of my actual Common App and walk a student through what I picked and why.
    • I know which colleges changed their supplemental prompts last cycle and how students interpreted them.
    • I can explain how I balanced mental health with ambition—something that’s part of the student experience but often ignored by formal advisors.

    This isn’t to knock professional counselors—they absolutely bring depth, structure, and years of perspective. But in today’s hyper-competitive, algorithm-driven, test-flexible landscape, you need someone who speaks both the strategy and the reality.

    Keywords I Keep Hearing from Students

    The students I coach keep bringing up terms like:

    • “How to get into competitive colleges”
    • “What makes a good college essay”
    • “Do I need SAT scores in 2025”
    • “College admissions advice from Ivy League students”
    • “What to write in the activities section”

    I know the answers because I asked the same questions myself, not in theory, but in practice—and I figured them out.

    Recent Experience Builds Trust

    One of the most important parts of the college application journey is emotional support. When I tell a student, “Hey, I got deferred too, and here’s how I handled it,” their whole body language shifts. They know I get it. That empathy? It doesn’t come from textbooks or webinars. It comes from walking the path myself.

    Final Thought

    In a world where college admissions change faster than most people can keep up, having a peer advisor with recent experience isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic advantage. I’m proud to be one of those voices for students—someone who’s walked through the fire and came out the other side, ready to guide the next group through it.

  • Peer vs. Professional: Why You Actually Need Both for College Advice By Your Side

    When I started applying to colleges, I had two people on my side. One was a traditional college counselor with years of experience in admissions. The other? A senior from my school who had just been accepted to a top-tier university with a full ride. One had credentials and polish. The other had experience that still had dust on its shoes.

    And honestly, I needed both.

    The Professional: Clarity and Structure

    My counselor was incredible at laying out the fundamentals. She helped me build my college list, knew the ins and outs of Early Decision deadlines, and made sure my FAFSA didn’t get submitted late. I’ll never forget the color-coded spreadsheet she gave me with deadlines, essay requirements, and financial aid notes.

    She knew what admissions officers typically looked for and had worked with hundreds of students. When I didn’t know where to start, she gave me a clear path.

    But there were limits.

    She hadn’t applied to college in decades. She didn’t know what it felt like to write 12 supplemental essays while juggling AP Calculus and robotics team competitions. When I asked her what made the Why Columbia? essay so tricky, she gave me a few tips—but they didn’t feel personal.

    That’s when I turned to someone else.

    The Peer: Recency and Relevance

    I connected with a student named Priya through Pathways, a peer-led advising platform. She had just finished her first year at Columbia and had navigated the exact same essay just a year earlier. Talking to her was like getting a backstage pass to the admissions world.

    She didn’t just talk about “what admissions officers want to see.” She shared how she actually wrote her essay—and the mistakes she made before she got it right. She told me how she structured her Common App activities section to stand out, how she approached interviews, and how she made last-minute pivots in her application strategy that paid off.

    What shocked me was how specific and actionable her advice was. She remembered what it felt like to be in my shoes. There was no theory—just lived experience.

    Together, They Created the Edge I Needed

    Here’s what I realized: professional counselors give you the big picture. They help you understand the system. But peers? They give you the texture—the “what it’s actually like” insights you can’t get from a PowerPoint.

    When I combined both, my application got sharper. My essays were better targeted. I had fewer blind spots. And more importantly, I felt less alone.

    That matters more than you think. College admissions are stressful. You’re constantly wondering if you’re doing it right. Having someone just a few years ahead of me saying “Yeah, I remember feeling like that too” made the process feel human.

    This Isn’t Either/Or. It’s Yes/And.

    A lot of students think they need to choose between a college counselor and a peer advisor. That’s a false choice.

    Your counselor might know how to navigate application portals and timelines, but they might not know the latest scholarship opportunities or how others have done it, or what the interview process actually felt like last year at Princeton.

    Your peer advisor might not be able to help you craft a financial aid appeal letter—but they can tell you what they wish they’d done differently when applying for aid. They might even show you the exact essay they used to win a merit scholarship.

    That blend of real-world wisdom and professional structure is what gives you an advantage.

    Why I Now Recommend Both

    I got into my top choice school. And I give credit to both my counselor and my peer advisor.

    Today, I serve as a peer advisor on Pathways. I talk to students every week who are in the same shoes I was in just two years ago. I tell them the same thing I wish I’d heard earlier: you don’t need to pick one guide—you need a team.

    Because when you’re chasing your future, it helps to have someone who’s done it before and someone who’s studied the system. Together, they’re unbeatable.