707: Inside the Personal Statement Process (Part 5): Making the Decision with Alisha, Class of 2026

Ethan Sawyer (00:02)
Hi friends and welcome back to the podcast. So this is a very special episode that I'm kind of squeezing in here while we're doing this other series. And some of you may remember Alisha from last season. Alisha is a current high school senior who's going through the process and we walked through basically sort of step by step, her personal statement process. And she reached out to me this past week and she said, I got my college acceptances. And I said, you got to come on the podcast. So what you'll hear in this episode is her walking through the ups and downs of hearing back from colleges. I asked her to give a little advice to students who are going through this process. And I asked her, what is something that you would have done differently, if anything? And I think you'll like what she has to say. And then of course she unveils where she got in, where she didn't, and how it all landed for her. If you didn't catch those episodes, you should know that Alicia is a current high school senior who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she's not studying the brain, she's mentoring younger students through her program, Running Start, or planning her next adventure. And I can't wait for you to hear where she's going to be having her next adventure. Hope you enjoy.

Hi Alisha, welcome back.

Alisha (01:21)
Hi Ethan, it's nice to be back. How are you?

Ethan Sawyer (01:24)
I'm really well, thanks. How are you feeling? We're recording this, by the way, for just timestamp for folks. It's April 16th and it's two weeks before that May 1st, you know, you have to like send the letter. So just wanted to like timestamp it for a second. And I know you've already decided, let's like save the reveal, but like, how are you feeling at this point in the process?

Alisha (01:48)
I'm feeling pretty good. feel like, I feel very like it was a rewarding process. I was really worried in the beginning, kind of with all like the stress about college app season and everything, but it all worked out and that's, that was, I'm happy about that.

Ethan Sawyer (02:03)
Yeah, I want to double click on a rewarding process. Like tell me more. Like what, how was this process for you? When you, when you look back now, it's been, I guess it's been like four or five months since we talked, but yeah, how has it been?

Alisha (02:15)
guess for me personally, I go to a pretty competitive school. It's like a public school, but it's pretty competitive in San Diego. And everyone around me is just so, I guess they take all the APs ever and it's like a very kind of stressful kind of environment a little bit. But for me, never, I tried not to let that like impact my decisions and my classes and everything. I would just take classes that I felt like taking. And I was like, yeah, it's fine. Maybe I won't get into like the best schools ever, but I'm doing what I feel good about. And it ended up actually working out and I don't know, it was kind of surprising and I was really, really happy.

Ethan Sawyer (02:55)
What do you feel like you learned about yourself in this process?

Alisha (02:58)
I learned, I don't know, maybe it's a little weird to say, but I feel like I always had kind of like a low self-esteem about myself almost. And like, I never thought of myself being like the smartest kid ever, especially like I would always compare myself to like other kids. But I kind of just realized that it's not about taking all the APs. It's not about like starting like a billion nonprofits. It's like everyone's so unique in their own way. And the way that you get into college is sharing what's unique about you and like, what's that, what that like special thing that everyone has is. And I think I was able to reflect that well in my college apps and a lot of that is thanks to you. So thank you so much.

Ethan Sawyer (03:38)
Well, I mean it's it was you know, I was sure like like well half a percent but it's just you know, you've worked super hard like over the last four years and And you didn't I don't think you like slacked off at school at all. Like you you did take some APs, right? Yeah, you've done pretty well

Alisha (03:56)
Yeah, I did keep a rigorous, I guess, curriculum. was just for me, I would always compare it to the top student ever. So that's why it was that for me. But I think what I did is I took a lot of APs in hard classes, but I did it in things that I was really interested in. I wasn't too heavy on the AP English route, so I just never, I didn't take AP English. I took AP Psychology, AP Computer Science, things that were interesting to me.

Ethan Sawyer (04:23)
Yeah. I'm also curious about the sort of like finding out about schools and how that little, I imagine, I don't know if it was rollercoastery for you, but for some students, that's like a little bit of a rollercoaster. Well, you just kind of walked me through finding out from each schools and you can feel free to be specific about like how you felt with getting in or not getting in to certain schools. And, and I want to hear about how the decision process went for you.

Alisha (04:50)
Okay. So one thing is I think a lot of students that gets students get really stressed about like, they get really sad about rejections and things. And for me, it wasn't too big of a deal, but I think that's because I applied early action to a couple of schools, USD, University of Michigan, and then UT Austin. And so that means I heard back from them like much earlier, and I think USD was my first decision and acceptance. So I got accepted and that felt really good because like the first decision is what you're always so scared about. Like I was like, I just need to get into at least one school. And then like once I did, I was like, okay, like everything's fine. Like it'll be fine no matter what after this. And then after that, UT Austin, I got deferred. And then UMich was I think probably, yeah, the third decision that I got. And I got accepted, which was like super surprising to me. And I was really happy. And from then on, I was like, okay, I think Michigan might be, might be it from like before I got the rest of my decisions.

Ethan Sawyer (05:54)
Pause right there, because you said you were super surprised. Why were you surprised about Michigan?

Alisha (05:59)
I just really, Michigan I always put on like a pedestal and I was like, wow, like that school is great and I would love to get in.

Ethan Sawyer (06:07)
So I love this strategy that you're talking about here, which is like, don't know if you thought of it as a strategy or if your counselor suggested this, but the idea of applying to some schools early, early action in particular that you have a shot at and then getting that first, ⁓ okay, I'm in somewhere. I'm going to go to college is such a good like tip for students. It's something that I'll say to students a bunch, but I'm so glad that it, that it actually like played out that way for you. So for the schools, just to set context for the schools that you applied to, did you apply all for the same major? If so, what was it or different majors at different schools?

Alisha (06:46)
I tried to aim for the same kind of major for most of them whenever it didn't have I was cognitive science was my goal like I really wanted to do that major so for you mesh one major I was really excited that when I got into is biopsychology cognition and neuroscience and then it was like some special little thing with computer science in there so I was like wow like that's great that's that's what I'm doing and then some schools I did like maybe not really I know Cal Poly slow I did computer engineering

Ethan Sawyer (07:13)
So walk us through some of the other decisions and how that went.

Alisha (07:18)
So I think another one that I applied to early was USC and I was really excited about that because I like USC. I kind of was wanting to stay in California was one of my goals, but I didn't really mind if I didn't get something that I wanted. So USC, I got deferred from there as well as UT Austin. that was also kind of a decision that was like, okay, it's still not like in or like yes or no, was a little stressful. I also got into some more safeties that I did like USF and like Penn State, which was exciting too. was good to, that kind of time period, like the early acceptances was like, felt really good because it was just a lot of acceptances. And so I was like, wow, like I'm on a roll. So that was that time. So then I got some, after all my like safety schools, got Cal Poly Slow and SDSU, which I also got into. And Cal Poly Slow was also exciting because I've heard that it's kind of a tough school to get into and they don't take any supplemental. So I was so surprised that like just off of my grades and everything that I got in. So that was, that was cool. What else? And then we had, then it was UC season, which was fun. So we had my first acceptance from UC was I think UCR. And I didn't apply to all the UCs for some reason, well, because like I got a fee waiver for four of them. So I did the four and then I also did a couple more. I did everything except for Merced, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. I got into Riverside, I got into Davis, and then I got waitlisted from UCI and waitlisted from UCSD, which was that those were kind of like the most like. I was really excited for those San Diego's like where I live. I was like UCSD, like at least I need to get in there. And then I didn't, so I was like, oh, oh no, maybe I'm not getting into all the schools that I wanted. It was a little scary, but, and since like, I guess the leftover ones were UCLA and Berkeley, was like, okay, there's no shot at any of those because if I didn't get into like the ones that are a little lower than there's like no way. And then I got rejected from UCLA right before and then. Then was the really scary day, which was March 26th, where all the IVs came out and Berkeley came out. And the first thing that I checked of the day was UC Berkeley, which I got in. It was so, so crazy. It was really emotional. And then I didn't get into any IVs, but that was okay. After I saw the Berkeley, I was like, okay, whatever. It's fine.

Ethan Sawyer (09:48)
Awesome.Yeah, what was that? I'm curious what that day was like for you. Just a little bit more like you said it was, you know, I imagine it was mixed feelings. Like can you say a little bit more about what that day was like?

Alisha (10:10)
Yeah, so I mean, I was waiting all day at school. Then as soon as I came home, guess, I don't know why for me, like internally during that day, I would keep on being scared about Berkeley. And then I would tell myself, I'd be like, OK, there's like, I'm not going to get in. I don't know why I'm scared. Like, it'll be fine no matter what. And then on the end, like, don't know, the rest of the exceptions that I got or like the rest of the decisions that I read, I was so like, had like normal emotion for all of them. I didn't really mind whatever I got. But then Berkeley, I don't know, I saw that and I literally started crying. I was like so shocked and so excited. And that's kind of right after that, I kind of knew like, okay, I think I think I'll be committing to Berkeley.

Ethan Sawyer (10:52)
And what had you, were you like thinking that right away or like what was your thought process there?

Alisha (10:57)
I think so, yeah. And what was so funny, guess, three of my other friends got in as well. I don't know, maybe it's like an over acceptance year or something. A lot of people from my school got in, which is great. And so I was so excited about that. And I was thinking like, it's in California. I love like San Francisco Bay Area and I got in for cognitive science. So I was like, yeah, I think this is it.

Ethan Sawyer (11:20)
Awesome. And when you were comparing, you know, the schools that you got into, you got into whatever it is, five or seven, you know, you've got a range here. What made you go? I think Berkeley is really the place for me. You mentioned the, you know, you mentioned obviously being in the Bay area. Obviously some of your friends are going, was there anything in terms of the academics or in terms of the vibe of the school?

Alisha (11:40)
Thing is, actually last year, I have a brother who applied last year and we went to visit a bunch of schools then. And we kind of didn't really visit schools this year, like for me, because we had visited enough last year, which I don't think was a good idea. I think we should have, but we saw Berkeley like briefly when we went there, but I really liked the area and I thought it was really great. And I think for me, making decisions was kind of before I like got any acceptances, I had kind of like, not really a ranking, but, almost like a ranking of the schools that I applied to and which ones I like the most. So Michigan, Berkeley, and then the rest of the UCs were all really high for me. And then, yeah, so I already committed to Berkeley, which is funny, but I am going to visit actually day after tomorrow is Cal Day. So I'll be going there and seeing the campus more and like seeing what it's really like. And I guess if I don't like it, then that's not really great. But I feel like I'll really like it. And that's kind of how I made a decision about that.

Ethan Sawyer (12:43)
What advice would you give as students who are maybe listening to this? I don't know a couple of months from now or they're doing their applications. What advice would you give to them for the college process? And it could be related to essays or even like developing their college lists or anything else that comes to mind.

Alisha (13:01)
I think essays, I feel like you have to someone who makes you, this is like really weird, someone who makes you feel like special, I feel like, and like unique. When you're talking about like ideas for like essays and stuff, I think it's good to sit down and like bounce ideas off of someone who like, I just remember when I was thinking about ideas, I was sitting in one of your sessions, Ethan, where you were like, yeah, just put any ideas in the chat. And so I had this idea about like my whole sand thing and that whole story, but I thought it was kind of silly at the time. I didn't really know if it was a good idea. So I put that in the chat and once you like kind of respond and you're like, this is a great idea, like here's my email, like I'd love to talk to you after. I was like, well, maybe this is a good idea. And like after I kept sharing my story with you, felt... I  felt really like more special than I feel normally. Like I was like, okay, maybe I do have something unique about me that's like worth like sharing a story. So when you're writing your essays, I feel like having that is so important because you can get out those good ideas when someone makes you feel like it's actually like worth telling.

Ethan Sawyer (14:12)
Cool. Yeah. Thanks for sharing that impact. I appreciate hearing that. And it was so easy for me to like see that and to, you know, affirm that in you and you worked so hard, you know, through the process, you didn't sort of stop it. The next, you know, the second draft, the third draft, you kept revising, which I really appreciate it. What worked well in terms of your college list building process? Like how did you think through that? Cause you seem really chill and like, I don't know, kind of balanced about it.

Alisha (14:43)
I think one thing for me is I didn't hold back on applying to like reaches, like good schools, which I think might not work for everybody because if you're thinking about like, I don't know, just something that like is like logical, I guess, then just apply to, I don't know, the schools that you think you get into. But for me, I just applied to the higher schools and surprisingly I got into a lot of them. And thinking back, like some of my friends, didn't apply to those like reaches, they just applied to targets and safeties. And now they're kind of regretting it because they're like, I might have been able to get into this school. And now they're, I feel like it's like, you're forever wondering, like, what if I did apply? then you would, now that I got my rejections for my IVs, I'm like, okay, I know now that like, I'm not going to go. So I think that was one thing in my list. And I think doing a lot of research about like the schools that you think would be right for you. Being happy about your college list is really important because, I don't know, you'll be happy about the schools you get into and you won't be like, okay, like, guess I'm going here now.

Ethan Sawyer (15:55)
Did you feel like you had enough in each category of like safeties, targets and reaches and about how many did you apply to in each of those categories?

Alisha (16:05)
I think I definitely applied to more reaches. Like I applied to a bunch of IVs for some reason and like doc schools. And then for targets, I was a little unsure on what a target even meant because I didn't know what I would get into and what I wouldn't. So like, guess UCI was one of my targets and I didn't get in. So I was like, huh, that's interesting. And then honestly for me, I just, think applying to safety is like, feel like one safety is enough. don't know why you would need more than that because I don't know, like once I got like Riverside, for example, is one of my safeties, that would have been enough. I didn't have to apply to like USD, USF and like all these other schools that I knew that weren't really my top options. So I feel like for me, I would say like have more reaches and targets than you would like safeties.

Ethan Sawyer (16:54)
If you're happy with those safeties. Yeah. You know, the one thing that occurs to me is like, in some cases, student listening, might not know what a safety is. like having a couple, because I've seen also situations where students thought a school was a safety and then it turned out to not be, you know, looking back on your process, what would you have done differently? If anything,

Alisha (17:10)
That's true. I think when I was making my college list, it felt really rushed and I was kind of scared about that. I feel like I just, like before my decisions, felt like I was like, I just dumped a bunch of like top schools in there and it felt like it was just like reading off of like top 20 lists or whatever. And I feel like it would have been better even if it's like not a top 20, school that's like kind of niche maybe that has like really good programs like, for cognitive science, maybe that would have been a really good option for me. I feel like I should have done more research on the college list and just developing that.

Ethan Sawyer (17:54)
Yeah, yeah, I hear you on that. How did your research process go when you were like creating your list?

Alisha (17:59)
A lot of the list making like happened like next to my parents, my mom, who's like, she's an immigrant mother. So she was just like, just go to the top schools and she was like, apply to Harvard. And I'm like, I'm not going to get into Harvard. There's no point. She's like, why do you think that? So it was like really, I don't know. I felt like I should have done more like, looking at how it'll, looking at how the programs would work out for me, that are just like top, top schools.

Ethan Sawyer (18:32)
You sort of given your version, tell me how this has all gone for them over the last month or so.

Alisha (18:37)
My mom is really happy about Berkeley and it's funny because she always has many different ideas in her mind about like, what if we do this? What if we do that? So the second after I got into Berkeley, I was so happy and everything. And then she's like thinking like, okay, but what about UCSD? And so she's like, the wait list in UCSD, you never know. What if you get off, then like you can live at home. And I'm like, living at home. It was a little scary for me. Even right now, it's a scary moment. I feel like at any second she could be like, just de-commit to Berkeley and wait on that UCSD. But she is overall really happy about my decision and yeah, it's awesome.

Ethan Sawyer (19:20)
That's great. I feel I'm so glad that it's worked out for you so well. And again, I just want to point to like your, your creativity and your work ethic. And there's just so much that you've put into this process. And even though maybe some parts were a little rushed, you know, whatever the list building, but I just, you know, I can see that a lot of it's paid off and it's been the product of not just how you were in these couple months, but like all the work that you've put in over these years. So yeah. Do feel proud? I hope you feel proud.

Alisha (19:51)
I do feel a little proud. It's like, I feel like I've never had one of those moments where like, I can see my actual work like paying off and like college ops or like college decisions were like, kind of my only time like actually seeing that. So it was really, it was really nice to see that.

Ethan Sawyer (20:11)
Well, I'm out of questions, but it feels like we should have something here to end the thing. So do you have any ideas about how we could end this? This is our fifth episode and it's probably our final one unless you want to come back and talk about grad school. But how do we end this, Alisha?

Alisha (20:29)
I don't know. It's a big deal. We could end with like... You should include some sand sifting effects.

Ethan Sawyer (20:38)
Okay, let's do that. Hold on. Dan, cue the sound sifting effects. All right, it's happening right now. All right, what else? Other ideas? How do we end this?

Alisha (20:47)
I don't know, I don't know. It's a lot of pressure. I think it's up to you.

Ethan Sawyer (20:51)
Yeah. All right. Well, I like the sound sifting effects and I just want to end with gratitude. Alisha, it's been so awesome being part of your process and being a fly on the wall here. And yeah, I wish you all the best. I hope you have an amazing time.

Alisha (21:06)
Yeah, thank you so much. And honestly, I can't thank you enough. feel like the work that you've done for me along with like counselors, my parents, and like even like friends and my brother who helped me a lot with the story. Like, I don't know. Thank you so much. I feel like your work is really selfless and like you kind of just, I don't know, just you do it for the love of the game.

Ethan Sawyer (21:26)
Totally. I totally do it for the love of the game. All right. Well, go have an amazing four years and yeah, come back sometime. It'd be fun to just hear how things are going in college.

Thanks friends, as ever, for listening. You'll find the show notes as ever at collegeessayguy.com slash podcast. If you're interested in more from College Essay Guy, including free resources and upcoming free live events and lots more, you can go to collegeessayguy.com and that's it. Thanks y'all. See you on the next one.