Students wait outside of the auditorium doors, cash in hand, lining up to see the Three Penny Press’ third annual College Advice Panel during Cardinal Hour on Tuesday, April 7. The panel consisted of 10 seniors who discussed their college application experiences.

The panel serves as TPP’s largest fundraiser of the year, charging students $5 at the door. The attendees were also given a resource packet consisting of some of the panelists’ supplemental essays and resumés.

Sophomore Olivia Koo already knew quite a bit about the application process prior to attending. Despite this, she feels more knowledge can never hurt anyone. 

”I already knew quite a bit about the college application process before coming to the college panel,” Koo said. “As a freshman, I had the privilege of getting to know a number of seniors, and they were kind enough to answer my questions when I badgered them.”

Koo attended the panel because of the inspirational aspect of it all. She found the advice motivational as most of the panelists chose “really good schools.” The panelists gave many pieces of advice, but one in particular stood out to Koo. 

“Something I took [away] was the importance of essays and finding a way to tell your story through all the activities you do and connect them together,” Koo said.

Senior and panelist Daniel Wu plans to major in biology and will be attending John Hopkins University in the fall. He went from attending the panels as an underclassman to now speaking at one. 

“It’s surreal,” Wu said. ”I recall using some of the exact advice that seniors gave last year in my own essay.”

Wu felt that he could have had more first-hand input when going into application season. He  wished he knew how to thoroughly research major-specific programs when first applying to college. Wu joined the line of panelists to help students go into the application process with a solid understanding of what it entails. 

“I find being able to help juniors navigate the unfamiliar process of college applications incredibly important to me,” Wu said. “Advice from seniors and upperclassmen truly helped me form my own application and responses.”

In the end, Wu closed the panel by giving his own input on the application process, telling students not to stress too much about the school they go to, but to instead focus on the effort they put in. 

“I hope that underclassmen and juniors really understand the importance of their essays and to not only put more time into their writing but to start early as well,” Wu said. “A good supplemental or personal essay can really make up for grade and/or extracurricular deficits.”