How can students maintain ownership of their college application process?

Simple: own the inbox, own the voice, own the vibe. That means you, dear student, should be the one reaching out to admissions, filling out forms, and making decisions about where to apply. Ask for help when needed, but don’t hand over the keys. Your application is like your personal highlight reel, and it works best when it actually reflects you. If your essays sound like your mom’s LinkedIn bio, it’s time to take back the mic. Trust yourself to lead the process. That’s what colleges want to see—a student ready to advocate for themselves and stand tall on their own.