New Haven Unified seniors urge early planning, deep engagement and balanced AP loads to boost college prospects

High school seniors at a New Haven Unified School District panel shared practical steps they said helped them gain admission to a range of colleges, from community colleges to selective private universities.

The students told an audience of parents and peers that starting early, following real interests and balancing rigorous coursework with wellbeing mattered more than chasing resume items. "The people that you surround yourself with... stay on track of your work," said Avery, who will attend Ohlone College, urging younger students to choose supportive friends and avoid procrastination.

Why it matters: Panelists represented several district pathways — community college, state universities and selective private schools — and described different strategies that can help students find a good fit. The discussion underscored that there is no single formula for admission and that academic planning, extracurricular depth and test-taking all play roles depending on the school.

Several students emphasized pursuing sustained interests rather than doing activities solely to pad an application. "If you care about something a lot, it will definitely show in your application," said Anushka Pure, who will study chemistry at Duke and described conducting independent research and entering competitions as ways to demonstrate commitment. Fatima, bound for Stanford, urged students to think like admissions officers and focus on strong essays and letters of recommendation: "Essays and letters of recommendation are oftentimes the determining factor when it comes to filtering through highly competitive applicants who all have stellar resumes."

On extracurriculars and athletics, Fatima said being a recruited athlete can help but is not a guarantee; she also described sports as a source of discipline and stress relief. Several students recommended not just joining clubs, but taking leadership and expanding involvement over time. Anashka Kuluru, who will attend Brown University, pointed to club participation and programs such as the district's Femme and STEM group as examples of activities that can grow into meaningful leadership experiences.

Students also discussed course planning. "I regret not pushing myself, taking certain courses," said Danush Rajmanjanath Rao, who recommended summer courses to advance placement and described Project Lead The Way (PLTW) cybersecurity as one way to build technical credentials. On Advanced Placement classes, Sharika Potnchetti, headed to UC Berkeley, said APs give an "academic edge" and recommended spacing difficult APs over several years; she noted she and peers took about seven APs during high school. Other panelists advised starting with fewer APs and adding more as students adjust to the workload.

On testing, the group generally advised taking the SAT or ACT. Sharika said tests remain useful for private colleges and can satisfy some university entry requirements; Jared said he regretted not taking the SAT. Anashka said a competitive SAT score today is "about 1,500 plus," while cautioning that a strong application has multiple components.

Practical application tips included planning which application systems to use (Common App, UC, CSU), saving documents and drafting essays in senior year after collecting experiences. Danush recommended maintaining relationships with teachers for recommendations. Avery urged students to check email for enrollment and orientation notices and to "live in the moment" during high school while preparing for college.

Panelists closed by thanking counselors and teachers who supported them — several named staff including Ms. Dutra, Ms. Montez and others — and the district moderator closed the session with a hope the guidance would help future students. The panel did not take formal actions or votes.

The district offered no new policy changes during the event; the session was an informational conversation among students and staff.