This Isn't High School Anymore

Even if the graduation ceremony happened to be rather anticlimactic, nothing could've prepared me for the summer after.

As a kid, I thought college was a faraway dream. But as I stared at my computer screen, the spreadsheet of schools I compiled felt way too real. Because it was no longer a dream, but rather a nagging call to action.

Four schools that offer the course I planned to take. Four chances. Me, against hundreds—if not thousands—of other aspiring nursing students. Exams, interviews, and requirements—same process, and maybe different outcomes. The more I looked at it, the more the fear started to sink in.

College applications were daunting, more than the high school ones. You weren't just fighting against the people your age, but older and younger people as well. It was a major turning point for most. Focusing on topics you are passionate about, or trying to bear with the weight of their parents' wishes onto them. The place where you'll stay in for the next four, five, or even six years and more. If you would survive to the end, at least. But what now if you don't get into one?

Schools, specifically the higher-ranked colleges, pick out their students deliberately. The recent University of the Philippines College Admissions Test (UPCAT) had a narrow 12.45% passing rate, taking in 18,350 students out of 147,437. It was a game of dedication, passion, and intelligence all combined. It wasn’t just UP that handpicks their students, but also every other school in the country.

Nursing, and many other high demand courses like engineering are usually seen as harder to get in, specifically the high stakes and grade requirements it brings. To apply to most of the schools offering these programs, they require a specific grade requirement of typically at least 85%. It may not seem as high, but considering the competition, getting in with the bare minimum would feel like a miracle. In addition to grades, departments do interviews and/or entrance exams—to prove that you were indeed worthy of being in their school.

Where will I ever end up? What would my parents think? It lingered in my head.

Multiple tabs opened on my browser, preparing for interviews, writing letters, and preparing requirements. Asking online became regular, questions regarding the process of getting into said school, the environment, and everything in between. Everyone’s story was different. From crying at the interview to not studying for the exams, a common ground was the solid advice they provided. It felt normal, and oddly comforting.

You could never completely prepare for the summer before freshman year. What happens, happens. Probably I'd end up in my dream school, and the best part? You'll never know until they release the results.

College applications are scary, I admit. But at the end of the day, what is meant for you will always reach your path. One way or another.