High School to College
Aislinn Henry
It is hard to figure out what to do after high school. Senior year is full of so many events, you barely have time to think about your next step. If you are not studying for finals, you are planning for homecoming or prom. However, senior year will be finished before you know it! It is important to set aside the time to plan what you are going to do after high school. There is no “right” answer, and every person is different. I have asked a past senior to answer a few questions to give insight on her transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college.
Aislinn Henry graduated from Suwannee High School in 2021 and recently graduated from Santa Fe College. She will be transferring to Florida State University as a junior majoring in economics. She chose Santa Fe College to be close to home to make the transition easier for her, but she also spoke with other friends who attended the college to get their opinion.
Aislinn’s Interview
What do you think was the most beneficial for your college applications?
“I think my application was strong in many aspects. I had a great transfer GPA, great high school leadership experience, and a strong set of classes on my high school and community college schedule. I think the most influential part of my application was the fact that I had so many college credits at such a young age. Colleges really like to see go-getters and I think the fact that I was graduating with my Associates of Arts degree at 18 years old was intriguing to many of the 4 year colleges that I applied to.”
What advice do you have for others when looking into colleges?
“The biggest piece of advice I would give other students is to go on a visit to each college you are interested in. I had my heart set on a different college until I took a visit to Florida State University. I finally felt at home and felt like I knew where I belonged whenever I got there. College tours had a huge impact on the college I decided to go to and I urge every student looking towards attending college to take a couple of tours.”
What advice do you have for others when filling out college applications?
“I would urge every student that is filling out college application to finish their applications in multiple sessions. College applications can get very overwhelming (especially as a transfer student), but taking the time to fill out the application in multiple sessions and taking a break in between each of those session will prevent them from being overwhelming.”
What advice do you have for making the transition from high school to college?
“I advise every student to either dual enroll and taking college classes while in high school, or to take a couple of college classes the summer before you move to college. This will make the transition from high school to college courses a lot smoother.”
What advice do you have for making the most out of your college experience?
“The biggest piece of advice I have for making the most out of your college experience is to take some time each week to focus on the things that make you happy. I know it sounds so silly and simple, but moving away and going to college is difficult. By focusing on something that make you happy, it helps to balance out those difficult times and eventually makes you love the change of environment that you are currently in!”
If you could go back and tell your high school self one thing, what would it be?
“I would tell my high school self to take in every moment of the time you have left. My four years of high school were some of the best years I have ever had. I loved every second of high school and am so grateful for the years I spent with my friends that turned into family. High school taught me many lessons that have helped me grow and become the person I am today!”
