New series will follow the process for one Hinsdale Central junior and his classmates
Hinsdale Central junior Jonathan Hurley and his mom, Cara, have agreed to chronicle their thoughts during the college application process as part of a new series that launches today. (Jim Slonoff photo)
Just what is the "right" college?
Is it a highly selective school? One that specializes in a particular major? Large or small? Near or far?
Hinsdale's Jonathan Hurley is beginning to think about those questions. In addition to taking several honors and AP classes, the Hinsdale Central junior has swim team practice, club meetings and activities, homework, trumpet practice and ACT prep tutoring.
"Right now, it's just about building the resume. That's probably the most important part right now," he said.
As a swimmer, Jonathan also is thinking about how his sport will fit into his future. He's reached out to some coaches. And he's gone to a couple of meetings at Central with college admissions officers.
"A lot of the schools track demonstrated interest," he said.
A strong student with a high grade point average, Hurley has about 20 or so schools in mind at this point. He knows competition will be tough at the selective schools on his list.
"It's obviously grades because that's the starting point," he said. "If you're looking to get into a selective school, they want everyone to be at a certain threshold. After that, then it becomes largely what you do outside of school, extra-curricular activities, sports obviously is a part of that, clubs. I think they really care about leadership positions."
Creating the right resume and being true to his own interests is a balancing act for Jonathan. He said he tries to avoid a "copy and paste" approach and chooses activities in which he is truly interested.
"I think some people do it because it looks shiny and it looks good in front of a college," he said of extra-curricular involvement, noting college applications also can be a motivator for some students to enroll in numerous AP classes.
"Some people who wouldn't even think about going into science are taking AP chemistry and AP physics just to do it," he said.
Worrying about how a transcript might look to a college admissions counselor can hinder students from taking classes they might enjoy, in his opinion.
"There are a lot of interesting classes at Hinsdale Central and many other schools, like criminal law and accounting," he said. "My AP classes and honors classes are dominating everything because they are AP and honors."
His mom, Cara Hurley, earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Loyola University Chicago and has a background in research. Watching her son begin this process has been a somewhat surprising experience. She thought conversations she's had with friends and work she's done with patients around this topic would mean an easier adjustment for her, she said.
"It's really mixed because it's this combination of excitement and genuine support for Jonathan to find what's right for him - and I probably communicate that more than he'd like to hear it, because I do think this is his choice of what's going to be the right fit for him," Cara Hurley said. "And then it's also I am seriously pre-grieving his eventual leaving, wherever that is. He's going to leave and I want that for him. We want to launch, and yet I'm like not wanting it at the same time."
As a researcher, she's read a lot about the college admissions process. As a psychologist, she finds herself observing other families' experiences on social media. She noted the level of anxiety some parents have while seeking advice on how to help their eighth-grader get into an Ivy League school.
"It's sad and stunning and yet says a lot about the climate," she said. "In this town every year I've heard stories for some years of kids with fantastic stats not getting into such and such a school and how can that be?
"There's just a lot of anxious chatter," she added. "It's all very interesting."
Despite the mixed emotions, Cara Hurley said she's looking forward to watching Jonathan choose a college.
"I'm kind of geeky, but I'm excited for the process," she said.
Jonathan said he tries to keep it all in perspective.
"For some people I know, it's like their whole life," he said. "I just don't try to make it that. It doesn't interest me that much."
