Courtney*

Caitie Benell ’13 has finished her college process and is overjoyed with the results.

“I visited Williams on Sunday [Sept. 30],” Benell said. “I will apply early decision and they will support my application.”

While she is excited and happy, Benell is still a little bit stressed since she needs to keep up her grades. She also said it will be difficult for her to tell other coaches with whom she has established relationships that she is no longer interested in their respective schools.

“It was my number one choice,” Benell said. “It didn’t feel real for a little bit.”

After her mom made celebratory cupcakes and her dad bought a purple and gold hat, Benell said the news has started to sink in.

Benell plays the libero position on her volleyball team and hopes that she will be filling the empty position on Williams’ team.

“I don’t want to go in all cocky,” Benell said, pointing out that college sports are played on a whole new level.

She said that she was the first girl on varsity volleyball to have an application supported by a division three school so everyone was very excited and supportive.

“I just want to fast forward to Dec. 15,” Benell said.  “Then I will be cruising.”

Phillip*

Phillip is a varsity athlete who is being recruited by Harvard University. He visited the school and was “blown away” with the coach, the team, the classes and campus.

“It’s so steeped in history,” Phillip said. “It’s the first college that ever existed in North America. Hundreds of thousands of kids have been educated there since the 1600’s. It’s sort of like stepping onto hallowed ground.”

Hoping to study medicine in college, Phillip plans on applying early action.

“The coach has been fairly concrete in saying that I would get in,” Phillip said.

Despite his enthusiasm about his tour, Phillip still plans on applying regular decision to Princeton, Duke and Stanford, which he says is tied for first on his list. He hopes to be in a position where he can choose between Stanford and Harvard but at this point, Stanford is not recruiting him. The coach showed some enthusiasm regarding his skill and Phillip knows he would qualify to walk on to the team but Phillip has not heard much else.

“I feel really, really fortunate,” said Phillip. “I feel bad sometimes because athletics affords me opportunities that most people don’t get. When I see my friends stressing out, I sort of feel guilty.”

Doug*, the brain

Doug has decided to apply Restrictive Early Action to Princeton University.

Francesca*, the all around

Francesca has elected to apply Restrive Early Action to Brown  University and Early Action to the University of Michigan.

Arthur*, the performer

Arthur will send his application Restrictive Early Action to Brown University.

*Names have been changed