Raju

Northwestern University

class of 2028

How did you think about college and the college application process before working with your Galin counselor? 

Before working with my Galin counselor, Ethan, I was daunted by the college application process. I had a lot of misconceptions about what the process would be like, and was overwhelmed by the amount of choices involved in creating a college list. I also wasn’t sure how to navigate my application, especially when it came to test scores and extracurriculars.

What was the most surprising thing to you about the college counseling process?

The most surprising thing about the college counseling process was how stress-free it was. I was actually excited to go to each meeting and discuss my future plans, and my counselor made me feel confident about my college choices and how I was doing in high school. Overall, the counseling process made me feel confident about applying and ready to tackle college.

What did you find the most helpful about the college counseling process?

The most helpful aspect of the college counseling process was how personalized it was. I was able to construct a strong application, highlighting the things I was passionate about rather than trying to fit a script. It was enriching being able to build upon my existing experiences and activities, and being able to talk about those in depth with my counselor.

One example of how my college counselor helped me make personalized plans is when exploring summer programs that related to activities in which I was already involved. I made the decision myself to apply to those programs, but having my counselor’s help in preparing my application and expanding my knowledge about each career field was invaluable.

Where are you planning to attend school next year and how are you feeling about your decision?

I will be attending Northwestern University next year and I am overjoyed! Northwestern has always been my dream school, and I’m so happy to be able to join a group of intelligent, passionate students as I pursue my studies. Galin was extremely helpful in helping me solidify my decision and feel confident about applying Early Decision.