by Eliot Stier, Class of 2009 – 26 Jan 2009
The end of the first trimester is a hectic time for high school seniors. For those of us who are applying to college, the weight of the applications falls on top of the tests, assignments, and projects that are all being piled on us right before the break.
The demand for individualism is high in college, so we need something to help us stand out. Despite many opposing assumptions, my experience at Waldorf schools has benefitted me immensely in the applications. When I finally completed my artistic high school portfolio, I was actually surprised and delighted to find how much I had done over the years.
SAT scores and GPA’s reflect some aspects of a student, but to make ourselves stand out and appear unique, it helps to have something like a portfolio to show our experiences and artistic skills.
I’ve also found that all the college admissions counselors I’ve spoken with during my interviews are familiar with Steiner schools and respect what they do. All of them said they appreciate the creativity that they see in Waldorf applicants.
So here’s a message to all students: Use your Waldorf experience to your advantage, and make a portfolio.
Without it I would just be just another student with good test scores, a good GPA, good teacher recommendations, and a few good ideas in my essays.