Don’t you just love the fall? The foliage is colorful, the air is brisk, and the crippling stress of college application deadlines are all around us.
Well, maybe the third one isn’t so great given November is prime time for many Early Decision and Early Action deadlines for colleges across the country. Even Juniata’s Early Decision deadline is November 15. Don’t worry though, our first Early Action deadline is December 1, so you have plenty of time to apply afterward.
With college application season in full swing, one question we consistently hear from prospective students in our admission office is:
“How do I get into Juniata?”
Great question. So, I decided to ask some of my coworkers. I approached them without notice, and asked them to answer the question, “How do you get into Juniata College?” To make it more fun, they were only allowed one sentence. Let’s see what they had to say:
Some were brief:
“Engage.” -Matthew Connor, Admission Counselor
“Research.” -Belinda Zauzig, Campus Visit Assistant
“Be weird.” -Theresa Joson ‘19, Admission Counselor
“By being yourself.” -Molly Thompson, Senior Associate Dean of Admission & Transfer Enrollment Operations
“Study hard, be yourself, don’t sweat the small stuff.” -Pam Zilch, Campus Visit Coordinator
Some were academic:
“Get good grades.” -Steven Simons, Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Marketing
“By working hard in high school, and taking a very challenging curriculum.” -Terri Bollman-Dalansky ‘85, Senior Associate Dean of Admission
“For the grad program, definitely one of the biggest traits of our students is they’re hard workers and dedicated to getting a good degree.” -Nicole Bopp, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
“Your application should represent your true self, and demonstrate your ability and drive to pursue your academic endeavors.” -Jason Moran, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
Some were straight from the heart:
“I would say, yes, the best way to get into Juniata College is to show your true self in your application, even if you think it’s what we don’t ‘want’ to see.” -Alisha Boerstler, Associate Dean of Admission
“Express your unique, inquisitive, and curious learning that will contribute to our diverse community.” -Brittany DeHaven ‘09, Senior Associate Dean of Admission
“It’s hard in one sentence, but for me the most important thing I tell my students is to be personal.” -Kaleigh Domanick ‘19, Admission Counselor
Some were confusing at first, but also made sense?
“The first thing I’m thinking is perseverance, but you don’t really need that…well you need that.” -Cindy Gibboney ‘18, Director of Enrollment/Alumni Engagement
And some were cheekily to the point:
“You have to apply.” -Reggie Onyido, Senior Associate Dean of Admission
While Reggie stole my thunder with his response, it affirmed my own answer to the question.
“Well, technically, the only way you can know is by applying.” -Kat Swantak, Assistant Dean of Admission
It’s true. While there isn’t a “right” answer, all of my colleagues’ responses, together, give a well-rounded response to, “How do I get into Juniata College?” The resounding consensus? Apply.
Juniata makes it super easy. We’re all about breaking down as many barriers as possible when it comes to college access, and it all starts with the application.
Not only can you choose between the Common Application or Coalition Application, but we also don’t have an application fee. More like application free am I right?
Also, many colleges have been hopping on what I like to fondly call the Test Optional Bandwagon. Given the COVID-19 situation, but we’re proud to say that we’ve been Test Optional since 1998!
To top it all off, we don’t require any supplemental essays. Juniata does everything we can to de-stress the application process.
So go for it! I can say with 100% certainty that we’re excited to read your application.
As always, it’s a great day to be an Eagle!
-Kat
