ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Julia Kornerup of Swampscott High School was accepted early to Union College in New York.
By LEAH DEARBORN
SWAMPSCOTT — Spring brings more than April showers; it’s the time of year when many students eagerly watch mail slots and inboxes for college acceptance letters.
For Swampscott High School senior Julia Kornerup, the decision to apply early has spared her some of the waiting anxiety.
When she was accepted into the general studies program at New York’s Union College back in December, she and her mother opened the digital letter containing the good news together.
“My mom started screaming,” said Kornerup. “She tends to be more outgoing about things like that. I was so happy but couldn’t express it.”
Since then she’s made preparations by reaching out to anyone else in the area with plans to attend the same school.
“I love the fact that I applied early decision,” she said, adding that it’s given her the ability to focus on the remainder of high school. “It’s so much better to have everything out of the way.”
Katherine Perez, a senior at Lynn Classical High School, has taken pains to ensure that she has plenty of choices when the fall semester starts.
She applied to 15 schools and has been accepted to most of them, but sees Providence College as the most likely option so far.
Perez, who wants to major in marketing with a minor in sociology, applied to more than a dozen colleges to see what sort of financial aid she would get.
“It was difficult to keep track, but I’m glad I did it,” said Perez. “I can’t imagine putting my whole hopes into one school.”
She said that many of her friends also applied to five or more schools, and that some of them are waiting on Ivy League responses.
Perez did have some advice for high school sophomores and juniors based on her own college application experience.
“Try volunteering, get involved with organizations,” she said. “They really do make a big difference.”
She named Girls Inc. of Lynn as a program that helped her get through the whole college process. Now she’s moving onto the search for scholarships.
As for the prospect of living out on her own, Perez isn’t daunted.
“I’m actually really excited about that,” she said.