University Bound: Highlighting Mikaela M.

Each year, our graduating students are accepted to universities all around the world. The College Counseling Office works closely with each student to find universities that best fit his or her goals and interests to ensure that s/he continues to excel. With the University Bound series, we highlight some of their stories. This week's interview showcases Mikaela M., a senior in the BFI program, who will be attending Northwestern University next year.

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Congratulations on your acceptance to Northwestern University! Can you share with us what made it your top choice? 

Thank you! I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to grow up near the Northwestern campus and community, which is definitely what sparked my interest in the school. However, throughout my college search, I fell in love with the interdisciplinary nature of the quarter system, the countless opportunities to get involved with other students, and the overall nurturing environment.

That being said, I did A LOT of research before I made my final decision. Over spring break in my junior year, my family and I went out to the East Coast to tour over 10 schools. However, with every new campus I visited, I noticed that I was subconsciously comparing each school’s characteristics to Northwestern’s (fun fact: I’ve been on their official tour seven times!). It provides the academic environment that I was looking for, allowing me to seamlessly double major and combine my interests.

Though my commitment to Northwestern was a natural choice, it came with a long process of research and exploration!

Do you already know what you plan to study? What types of clubs and activities are you excited to participate in on campus? 

This is my favorite question! Throughout high school, I fell in love with economics and studying how consumers make decisions, both rationally and irrationally. Through my classes and personal reading, I’ve noticed how valuable a strong background in math is - especially for economic research!  At Northwestern, I am excited to further my passion for these subjects through a double major! However, I also hope to take advantage of the thousands of available classes to explore fields such as psychology and sociology.

I hope to join the Women in Economics Club at Northwestern, play club volleyball, and engage with the broader Evanston community through peer tutoring for younger students.

I look forward to seeing how my passions evolve during the next few years!

How do you think your time at LFC has prepared you for success in college?

My time at the LFC, especially these last two years preparing for the Baccalaureate exams, have made me a lot more mature when it comes to being proactive about my work. The most valuable skill I’ve gained is discovering what works best for me when preparing for exams. Midterms and finals are a huge part of college, especially at a school like Northwestern which follows the quarter system, so I am extremely grateful that I have been able to get a head start on “learning how to study.”

I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed completing research projects in the Bac and BFI curriculum which have opened my eyes to new horizons, perspectives and potential career paths.

Finally, the Bac curriculum does a great job of highlighting the links between subjects! For example, economics and philosophy, history and English literature, etc. It has set the tone for the next four years when I hope to further my well-rounded education!

Of course, this would have been impossible without the support of my teachers and counselors!

How did you approach your college admissions journey? Create a balanced list? Take advantage of global opportunities? Utilize the resources available to you at school and at home?

Since freshman year, I started working on my list and keeping an open mind about opportunities. I attended virtual tours here and there, spoke with older friends going through the process, and started thinking about what I was looking for in a school.

When it came to junior year, I had a clearer idea of what I was looking for and was able to make a balanced list of reach, target and safety schools with my counselor. It really helped to have an expert perspective on the topic to develop an application strategy. 

I also tried to be as proactive as possible, especially when it came to writing my essays. That’s definitely the longest part of the process, so I spent a lot of time this summer reflecting and writing to have a head start when school rolled around!

My biggest tip would be to research, research, research!

Do you have any advice for future LFC students going through the college application process?

Looking back, I think the college application process is an amazing opportunity to be able to reflect and learn about yourself. Researching colleges helped me gain insight into what I was truly looking for in a school and what I wanted my future to look like. On the other hand, writing my essays helped me discover aspects of my personality (like my creativity, for example, that I didn’t know I had!). 

My most important piece of advice, however, would be to make the most of your time in high school! These are the years when you have the freedom to explore, learn and grow in a million different ways - whether it be in classes, extracurriculars or with your peers! No matter what, you will always be successful as long as you stay true to yourself and your passions!