College Raptor’s latest scholarship winner is Eden Jones! I had the chance to chat with Eden about her college search process, the ups and downs of cultivating a college list, and her expectations of the future.
This is what she had to say!
Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Eden Jones, and I am a current high school senior at Oxford Academy in California. I am involved in my school’s high school newspaper as an editor, and outside of school, I love serving the community by volunteering my time at the local homeless shelter. During my free time, I enjoy bullet journaling, cooking, and staying in shape with at-home workouts. After graduating from high school, I plan on attending a four-year university to major in finance. I want to pursue a career as a personal financial advisor.
You mentioned uncertainty making a list. How did College Raptor help?
College Raptor was easily the most helpful resource I found for finalizing my college list. For one, the College Raptor site is easy to navigate, which made the college research process efficient and effective. Additionally, it was really helpful to be able to click through the many tabs of information for each college. From admission statistics to campus life to majors, College Raptor offered all the information that I needed to know. It allowed me to further decide whether a given college was the right fit for me.
What were the most important factors to you in a college?
When conducting my college research, there were several main factors that I considered. Among them, student enrollment numbers, location, and student diversity. Although I value strong academics and a variety of extracurriculars, I know that regardless of which college I select, the school will help me thrive. With this in mind, I focused my research on factors that vary from school to school.
Firstly, I value a larger student body because I want to meet new people every day throughout my 4+ years in university, rather than getting to know all the students in my graduating class. I also placed a lot of emphasis on location, specifically looking for schools in the vicinity of big cities because I love the city life. Lastly, I looked into ethnic and socioeconomic diversity because I believe that surrounding myself in a diverse community will stimulate an ideal learning environment.
How did College Raptor’s features help refine your college list?
I really appreciated the “academic match” feature, which yields a number on a scale from 1 to 100 based on my stats and indicated preferences for a college. This allowed me to verify which colleges align most with the factors I value the most. Overall, analyzing the overall match and acceptance odds was a credible way of confirming which universities are best suited to my interests.
What was your college search process like?
For me, the college research process is really engaging. Conducting research about potential schools is exciting because I anticipate the day I’ll enroll in one of these amazing colleges. Though it was fun for me, I must admit it was a little overwhelming referring to the entire Internet as my resource, so I am grateful to have stumbled upon the College Raptor site to assist me in the research process.
What are you most looking forward to in college?
During my time in college, I intend on making the most of every moment. From joining on-campus clubs to tasting local food options to seeking out internships and academic opportunities. I am confident that not only will I learn tremendously, but I will also create memories to treasure for many years after graduation.
Have any advice to give to other students going through the search process?
To my fellow students, I would definitely recommend starting early! There’s no better time than now to conduct your college research. After all, many of us are stuck at home doing online school. It leaves us plenty of time to decide what colleges are the right fit for us. Don’t allow a high price tag or a low acceptance rate on a dream school stop you from applying. When it comes to the college application and admissions process, it’s better to take your chance than to refrain from applying for fear of rejection. With that said, I wish you all the best of luck in your college search journey!
Congratulations again, Eden! Everyone here at College Raptor wishes you luck on all future endeavors.
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