On April 11, Fort Dorchester High School’s seniors arrived at the Media Center with their devices charged and hopeful attitudes, as six higher education institutes were ready to say ‘yes’ to them right there, at any time. The Charleston Cosmetology Institute, Trident Technical College, Francis Marion University, Newberry College, and the University of South Carolina at Aiken were present and worked hand in hand with the students and their applications.

This was the second time an event of this nature was held at our institution. Quick College Application Day, also known as Instant Decision Day, is typically hosted at local high schools and universities, where students can talk and be interviewed by institutions and be accepted without much delay. “The difference with this event compared to other college events is that it’s intended for kids who maybe haven’t applied to college yet or aren’t happy with their college options,” explains Mrs. Nicole Twohig, one of the counselors at Fort. “We’re bringing colleges who are able to give you an ‘on the spot’ decision, so it kind of provides more options for those kids who are at the later end of their college process and needing more options.”

Marisol López Herrera, Emiliano Rivera, Sinaí Alexandra Hernandez Moreno, and Daniela Carolina Marcano Bruzual are just four of the many seniors who attended this event held during first and second period, excited and hopeful for the opportunities that Quick College Application Day offers. López Herrera confessed, “I was a little confused about how to apply for scholarships and universities, and the help of the counselors and recruiters was very good to apply and start studying.”

If something connected these students, it was their goals set for this event. “Acceptances, acceptances at all the universities present here,” declares Rivera as his goal for the event. He has already received two acceptances during this event, one from Newberry College and another from Francis Marion. On the other hand, López Herrera declared among laughter, “I want to take a scholarship and help to finish my applications.” At the same time, Hernandez Moreno is excited about the possibility of studying in the United States. “My goal was to find, and I already found it, an effective result to be able to know what to do when I leave school, in terms of college,” she commented while finishing up her application to Trident Tech.

Near the end of the colleges visit, Marcano Bruzual explained her emotion while counting up the days to come to the Quick College Application day, “I was very interested in being able to apply to universities in person, talk to them, and ask them questions about the applications since some fields in them can sometimes be super tricky.” Rivera also agreed on this point, he shared, “Well, I had applied directly from the Common App but I had never applied as face to face with a person so it is fine because I get to meet them and ask them for help, so that’s awesome.”

This Quick College Application Day is one of the final events for Fort’s seniors, who are eager to finish the school year. This event not only prepares them for the next step in their education, but also marks the end of an important stage in their lives. The last events for the upperclassmen will be Decision Day on May 2, where the seniors will be celebrated with ice cream for their constant effort and dedication over the past 4 years. Then, on May 14, it will be their last day of school, before they walk across the stage at the North Charleston Coliseum, shaking hands with the principal and superintendent, holding their diplomas, at their graduation ceremony on May 25.