Page 3:
PVHS Seniors go to Military Academies
Page 4: Cords! Cords! Cords! The More the Merrier, Right?
Page 5-7:
College Maps: See where the Class of ‘24 is Going Next Year
Page 8: See What Seniors Wish They Knew About the College Application Process
What’s your passion in life? For Rachel McGinty, it’s acting. She was an extroverted child so her parents put her into acting class when she was six years old in her hometown of Chicago. She began her passion for singing and performance within the Jewish community, where she found her voice as a member of her synagogue’s choir joining the adult choir at the young age of thirteen. Naturally, being in musical theater was a perfect fit.
Luckily for PVHS, McGinty has been a part of the drama department, sharing her talents and honing her craft since her freshman year. McGinty is currently President of the Drama Club and manager of the Comedysportz improv team at PVHS. McGinty has transformed herself and transfixed audiences in roles ranging from Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family” to her most recent role as Veronica Sawyer in “Heathers: The Musical.”
Junior Reese Lynch described McGinty as one of the most dedicated people he knows, who is someone that is always working but manages to be so funny and nice.
Nicole Thompson, drama director at PVHS, recalled meeting McGinty via Zoom and knew immediately that she was something special. Thompson noted that McGinty is one of the hardest working students, who has grown from a small part in “Peter and the Starcatcher” to the lead in “Heathers.”
“Every assignment that she does can be used as a model since she always goes above and beyond,” Thompson said.
She added that McGinty is constantly training and is focused on her career and striving to become better, earning every accolade.
With the school year nearing an end, the obvious question is where can we next expect to see Rachel McGinty perform?
McGinty plans on attending Marymount Manhattan College in New York City for a BFA in Musical Theatre starting in the fall semester. Being in New York, she hopes to audition and gain even more experience in theater productions. In addition to pursuing a career in acting she would also like to be a vocal teacher.
Christine Xie is an excellent senior who is on her way to begin her new life after high school and is really excited for the adventures she will be facing. She is passionate about her path in biology, mainly focusing on neuroscience and pre-medicine. However, her passion to try new things doesn’t just stop there, as she wants to try more such as business, finance and computer science.
“In the future, I hope to be a neurosurgeon and increase gender representation within the speciality,” Xie said.
She had a hard time deciding to either go to Stanford or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but after visiting Stanford, she realized that Stanford gave her a feeling of home. She took this as a sign to know where she truly belongs.
She will be majoring in human biology. Xie appreciates many of the experiences she had and classes she took during her time at PVHS.
“The most helpful experiences I’ve gained in high school are from the elective courses, like science research or yearbook, or from extracurriculars,” Xie said.
College life is a very important part of our lives, that is when we are growing, studying, doing our first jobs, experiencing lives away from home, but accepting the adventure and becoming what you have dreamt for should be our goal.
Keeping all these things in her mind, Xie is expecting to do a lot and experience a lot.
“I look forward to riding my bike to classes, making new friends, and seeing friends from PVHS like Naomi Kao, Sarah Park, and Andreas Tempereau,” said Xie.
Within the drama department, McGinty has become a mentor to others.
“I really looked up to her a lot and she has guided me through drama when I first came here from Australia,” sophomore Maya Liebetrau said.
“I would love to teach voice, I love every facet of voice and I would love to supplement my career by being a vocal teacher because while acting can be on and off, voice teaching is something I love to do,” McGinty said.
“I had a tough decision of choosing between Stanford and MIT, but after visiting I felt at home at Stanford. Its environment is extremely warm and welcoming, and when I stepped on campus, it seemed like a big family,” Xie said.
There might be many good and bad experiences but Xie is accepting the challenge to be who she wants to be and do what she wants to do.
Xie is an excellent student and would surely excel in her college life too.
This might be the end of her high school life but this would definitely be the start of another amazing part of her life.
PVHS senior Izzy Zaro has recently made the decision to study in Rome for the first semester of college during her freshman year at the University of Miami, making Zaro one of the few students from PVHS who is leaving the U.S. and studying abroad.
Many students avoid the option of studying abroad because leaving the country could cause a big change in the way anybody would live their life. However, this major shift of lifestyle can cause many students who do choose to study abroad to develop new skills, branch out from their normal daily activities and create new memories and life experiences.
For Zaro, study abroad for her first semester of college was a great option.
“I think the opportunities that you get when studying abroad are so different from what you get at a normal college,” Zaro said.
Schools and universities majorly differ depending on the country and even the state that students choose to study at. From different campuses to different lifestyles, the move from high school to college is a big change.
As for why she chose to study in Rome, Zaro said, “the people you meet and the different cultures you get to experience in Rome are so interesting and having something [the study abroad program] to be a part of is such an honor.”
Additionally, Zaro is looking forward to trying new foods, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and
learning about how people in different countries live and how their lives can be different from ours in the US.
Although change is a good thing, it comes with many challenges to overcome.
Struggles such as fitting in to the new culture or adapting to possible language barriers are some of the many difficulties Zaro could face next year.
“Moving away for the first time and going so far is definitely a worry for me but I think it is going to work out in the end,” Zaro said. “I think everything happens for a reason and I am really looking forward to this experience.”
Zaro offers some advice to students who are considering studying abroad.
“Just go for it, they are only four years in college. It will be a great experience to live somewhere else and meet new people. I would just say enjoy the time you have there,” Zaro said.
By Holly Alexander social mediaHana Wright is set to attend Northeastern University, where she will major in Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Her academic journey begins in Greece at The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) as part of the MUN program. She will be in Pylaia, Greece. Although Greece wasn’t her first choice, she is eager for the adventure.
“I’m excited to see Greece because I’ve never been to Europe before. It’ll be exciting to explore a new country with other students,” Wright said.
Wright will be with 300 other students for their first semester in Greece. They will be spilt between three different hotels, and the process for finding a roommate was straightforward.
“You fill out a form if you are clean or messy, if you stay out late, and a bunch of random questions, and they give you a random roommate,” Wright said. “The rooms are doubles with two people in one hotel room.”
However, returning to Boston for the second semester has some housing challenges, which Wright anticipates will be stressful for returning students.
“They told us dorming is going to be difficult because we are all coming back and everyone else already has roommates. So, they told us they’ll put us in places where people are going to study abroad second semester, some doing a co-op, and any empty spaces they’ll stick
us where they can,” Wright said.
The process of becoming a student abroad has its complexities.
“It’s a big process. I had to get my passport renewed and get a Greek visa since I’ll be there for four months. Figuring out how much to bring on a plane is also difficult,” Wright said.
Going out of the country before returning for college in the second semester isn’t for everybody.
But Wright and students similar to her are venturing out to gain new experiences in different places despite the difficulties.
Going abroad is a great way to get a change in scenery before spending the next three years of college grounded to make friends and start putting down roots for a future.
Elsie delaCruz began her competitive swimming career in elementary school and has been diligently practicing ever since. DelaCruz’s hard work is evident through her numerous accolades, such as breaking her own Bay League record for the 200 Yard Individual Medley for the last three years straight.
DelaCruz’s talents are what helped her achieve her goals of going to the United States Naval Academy on scholarship as she is committed to the Women’s Swimming and Diving team.
“I reached out starting after my sophomore year of high school [via] email, and I started communicating with their head coach. [The Naval Academy] seemed like a place that might be a fit, so when they offered me an official visit I took my chance and traveled out to Annapolis by myself and I just fell in love with it,” said delaCruz.
“I loved all the girls on the team, I loved the coaches and the campus, and just everything they had to offer.”
In addition to a rigorous practice schedule, delaCruz will also have to balance academics at the Naval Academy.
“I’m hoping to major in Oceanography, then possibly go on to graduate school, which is something I’ve always wanted to achieve. I’ve always been interested in oceanography, and I’m really excited to see where it takes me,” said delaCruz.
DelaCruz cites her father Art delaCruz, a former Top Gun pilot and instructor, as one of her biggest inspirations.
“I think [my dad] had told my mom before I committed that he didn’t know if he wanted any of his kids to go to the United States Naval Academy, but now that I’m going he’s super excited. He already told me he’s coming to all my swim meets and he’s going to cry at all of them,” said delaCruz.
“I’ve also been lucky enough that my dad works with a lot of other alumni from the other military schools as well and I’ve been lucky to meet some of the women in there, and they’re definitely really strong and inspirational leaders.”
Daniela Rusich, one of delaCruz’s best friends, is excited for this new exciting yet bittersweet chapter of her life.
“I’m really excited for her and I’m really proud of her. She’s worked really hard and I think she deserves this.”
Daniel Sung is one of the fastest
“Support yourself with a group of people who want to see you succeed.”
- Michael Mackiewicz
“School is what you make of it. Get involved, don’t be afraid to take risks, and have fun.”
- Camden Friedman
“Don’t ever let yourself get too comfortable. There is more harm in not challenging yourself than there is in challenging yourself and failing at times. Everyone who is good at something failed at it once before.”
- Andelyn Sperry
“Stay on top of all your work and you won’t have a worry in the world.”
- Adam Hardesty
“Involve yourself in activities on campus because those things are the most fun at school.”
- Chloe Choirunners to ever grace the track at Palos Verdes High School. His many accomplishments, such as holding the PVHS record for the Men’s 100 meter dash at 10.69 seconds, have contributed to his acceptance at the United States Naval Academy in Maryland.
Sung said that he “chose the Naval Academy wanting to become a Marine Corps Officer and it’s one of the best ways to become one.”
Unlike enlisting in the military, where the requirements are generally more physical, the Naval Academy has a current acceptance rate of under 10% as of 2024.
The school’s selectiveness can be attributed to their high standards as a school.
Additionally, separate from many universities, “It’s different because the day to day life is a balance of athletics and academics,” Sung said. The school is not just a road to higher education but also a chance for those like Sung to serve the United States as well.
Success at the Naval Academy is both academically and physically demanding, but it is also the best way for Sung to achieve his career goals while
gaining a holistic education and unique opportunities.
PVHS senior Alex Lee, who plays on the PVHS tennis team and likes golfing outside of school, was one of the few students across the country to be accepted into the US Air Force Academy.
This year, The United States Air Force Academy had about a 10% acceptance rate. While going off to the Air Force is an amazing opportunity for Lee, he will miss many parts of life at home and at Palos Verdes.
“The biggest thing I’ll miss about PV will be my friends. They’re all spreading out around the U.S. for college and I know it can be tough to keep in contact with people while I’m at the academy,” Lee said Many who attend military academies attend because of examples set by people they look up to.
“I first got the thought of joining the Air Force Academy when one of my older brother’s friends decided to go there. He was someone I always looked up to and after he decided to go there, I researched some information about the academy. After I did some research, I applied to go to a summer seminar in between my junior and senior year. I ended up really liking the academy after meeting like minded people so I decided to commit myself there,” Lee said.
While leaving PV and going off to college will be a bittersweet experience, Lee is still looking forward to the new skills he will learn.
“Although there aren’t any college parties or as many fun activities at the academy, but I’m excited to meet new people and have the potential to fly/ skydive,” Lee said.
Always remember to have fun with whatever you do, try not to stress so much, and if you’re gonna do something give it 100%.
-Kristian Masnov
Do the work when it’s assigned, I spent too much time playing catch up my freshman and sophomore year because I didn’t care about grades back then
- Justin Campbell By Valerie Villegas reporterEven before the beginning of his high school career, senior Austin Roach had developed a deep fascination for motorsports. Over the years, his captivation continued to grow and is now driving him into the next chapter of his education.
Following graduation, Roach plans to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) where he will be studying HighPerformance Motorsports Technology.
“[UNOH is] one of the best [schools] for getting into the field of motosports because they have direct internships with different racing scenes. They do internships with Nascar, Rally, [and other larger names,]” Roach said.
His ultimate goal through schooling is to become professionally immersed within the scene of motorsports through the internships that UNOH offers their students.
“The internship I want to do is with Formula Drift. You get assigned to a team and do what they need you to do. It gives you experience that would help you when looking for a job and you get to experience what it is like to be in a pit crew and work with race cars,” Roach said.
His future plans do not come as a surprise to those around him as his fascination with motorsports can be traced back to even before freshman year.
senior Gia Bohorquez said.
Whether you’re familiar with the intricacies involved in motorsports or not, when speaking on the subject, it is easy to recognize the passion Roach has.
“His knowledge of cars is impressive. I, myself, don’t know much about cars and the automobile industry, but when he talks about it, it’s very endearing,” junior Ariana Valenzuela said.
As the remaining school days rapidly come to an end, marking the end of a long-lived chapter and the beginning of a new journey, many of the seniors who have served as mentors to the underclassmen will be departing in pursuit of their interests. Junior Kyle Jongewaard, a close friend of Roach, shared a message:
“Do things because you like them, not because you think it will look good on applications.”
- Vanya Agrawal
“He’s always had a very deep interest in cars and follows Formula 1 very closely [and has] always had a larger interest in working with cars, so it’s very cool that he’ll be able to continue that in his future,”
“You’re a great friend and mentor and I don’t think the band would have been as fun without you. Learning so much about cars and sharing laughs has made my day and world better. I hope your senior year was worth it,” Jongewaard said.
This year brought about new changes to rules and points for class competition. The Class of 2024 still came out on top.
(Photo by Chloe Choi)
I wake up to see my beautiful black and red Palos Verdes graduation gown hanging over my chair. I hop out of bed early Thursday morning, the clock saying 7:30 AM. I start getting ready, still tired from not studying for the last two finals of my high school career.
I’m already anticipating what it’ll feel like to finally walk across the stage at graduation, so ready to flex my knowledge to my peers with my cords piled high on my neck.
There’s only one problem; I only have a total of two cords! Being a wallflower these past four years has not paid off.
All my hard work avoiding clubs and after school activities was a waste of time!
I roll my eyes and start to rack my brain for a solution. All of a sudden it comes to me, the solution to my narcissistic dilemma.
I grab my computer and start typing at the speed of light, going to the only place I know can help me now.
As I reach the pearly gates of Amazo, sweat beads are already forming on my brow.
Hundreds of tempting items pop up at the blink of an eye, but I must not break my focus.
I select the search bar and type in my request: “graduation cord 20 pack.”
Part of me feels a slight tinge of guilt for my classmates. I think of their sad, empty necks on graduation day.
I pity them and their integrity.
I click on the pack with the most colors, because I need everyone to know the range of my false academic achievements. I check the delivery, and to my surprise, it’ll only take a few hours for them to arrive.
After school ends I rush home to pick up my package before my mom sees it on the doorstep.
I rip open the brown cardboard box; my eyes blinded by the bling of my new accessories.
I unfold each of the chords and lay them on my bed, overwhelmed with the success of my plan.
The audience will be so impressed with my mountain of colors and tassels as I cross the stage.
My parents call me downstairs, reminding me that I only have three hours until we have to leave for the ceremony.
I hop into the shower and start
getting ready.
As I start putting on my gown, all the memories of high school rush into my head.
Walking into class 20 minutes late, skipping my zero period every morning, and staying up until three in the morning watching TikToks instead of doing my homework.
I’ll miss it for sure.
I start to pile my chords around my neck, quickly realizing that I can barely see through them all!
There’s no time to lose, I’m already almost late.
Typical me.
I throw the last five around my shoulders and try to stand, keeling over under the weight. I can barely make it to the car without all of them falling off. In hindsight, maybe the 20 pack wasn’t the best idea.
When we arrive at school, I part with my parents and start to move towards the group of my peers forming around the stage.
I gallop with the power of ten racehorses, struggling under the weight of the chords. I make it just in time, as they instruct us to form two lines.
I get in line, and eyes already glued to my decorations.
Just like I planned.
As young people prepare for their futures, more and more are choosing to pursue a trade education over more traditional college degrees as the path to success.
Forest Bates plans to make his way to CSU Maritime, a beautiful school on The San Francisco Bay.
“I want to be a crane mechanic in the LA Harbor. If you go and ask any of those guys ‘How do I get your job?’, they will tell you to go to CSU Maritime and major in Mechanical Engineering,” Bates said.
“From there you will be hired straight out of graduating, so I just took the advice.”
Bates reveals one of the biggest reasons for his ambition and motivation.
Bates was aware that his choice to go to trade school was the best path for him thanks to advice from experienced people in the field.
His confident decision shows how much research he has done about his options and possibilities after graduating, and
how much time and energy he put into discovering the right path for himself.
Bates shared his reasons for not pursuing another career path.
“The other field that I was considering going into was forestry to be a national park ranger. The biggest difference is that if I took that path I wouldn’t be guaranteed the job after getting the degree and could end up being a lifeguard or something after wasting all that time and money at college,” he said.
“Compared to CSU Maritime, where it’s the guaranteed straight forward path into a quarter million a year union job, it wasn’t a difficult choice.”
Cal Lutheran University
Peyton Stocke
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Melina Acuña
Kendall Beshear
Jacob Bobic
Keegan Cross
Danielle Fiamengo
Sienna Elkin
Ava Keshtkar
Elayna Pope
Polly Power
Patrick Roche
Danny Stender
Cal Poly Pomona
Shalomiel Solel
Cuesta College
Rayna Volman
Chapman University
Alexandros Cacos
Rebecca Olvera
CSU Chico
Nathan Harper
CSU Fullerton
Kayla Epstein
Talia Herniter
Ganav Siddha
CSU Northridge
Madalyn Barley
Joshua Bates
CSU Maritime
Forest Bates
Braden Matthews
Gavin Steuerwald
Matthew Yoon
CSU San Marcos
Erin Kessel
Claremont McKenna College
Luke Leonard
Clarence Lin
El Camino College
Olivia Hamilton
Reed Herendeen
Caden Kendall
Eleni Klostrakis
Katherine Lewis
Kristian Masnov
Ryan Nguyen
Patrick Robles
Aeris So
Tyler Tellenbach
Kian Woudwijk
Harbor Community College
Joaquin Bejarano
Luke Bejarano
Justin Campbell
Monterey Penninsula College
Remo D’Agliano Luna
Pitzer College
Brette Andrews
Pepperdine University
Madeleine Ahn
Sofia Daneshvar
Santa Monica College
Kaya Biligic
Loyola Marymount University
Nathan Chavira
Timothy Keroles
Jacob Cutwright
Christopher McNeill
Brendan O’Donnell
Aaron Paik
Owen Sanford
Dash Tyler
Ryan Um
Sophia Wattson
University of Redlands
Hugo Wayner
University of the Pacific
Matthew Liu
UC Davis
Gia Bohorquez
Jaxon Chang
Nathan Kim
Jonathan Liu
UC Riverside
Donya Ahmady
UC San Diego
Cayden Cooper
Abby Song
David Su
San Diego State University
Kian Alagoz
Gabriela Alvarez
Katelin Campbell
Emily Heinze
Teh-Han Kim
Lisa Lininger
Gavin Montgomery
Grace Moore
Caden Resich
Jack Weitzman
Santa Barbara City College
Kamran Bottlewalla
Pierce O’Leary
Stanford University
Christine Xie
UC Irvine
Aaryan Angadi
Maily Huynh
Ransom Liu
Arman Savar
Andelyn Sperry
Koda Torres
UC Berkeley
Chloe Choi
Naomi Gan
Eric Hernandez
Mark Lin
Natasha Nirmal
Daniela Rusich
Ty Sorenson
Derek Su
Sophie Sun
Christopher Vasey
Natalie Wang
UCLA
Rohan Gianchandani
Samantha Lekawa
Connie Lim
Cayden McGuire
Makayla McNeill
Jacob Reis
Angel Shen
Owen Traina
UC Santa Barbara
Isabella Cordi
Sean Halligan
Maya Munoz
Petra Riggs
Alex Yancheson
Eva Yancheson
UC Santa Cruz
Vytas Vitkus
University of San Diego
Eric Mulkey
University of
Southern California
Lucca Chrysostomou
Kyleigh Cunningham
Gabriella Di Camillo
Camden Friedman
Ryan Fuerte
Jennifer Grennan
Christopher Lachowicz
Antonio Liberati
Tyler Morales
Anna Peti-Peterdi
Delaney Shannon
Tyler Shea
Kaden Stone
Irene Soltani
Frances Stott
Cole Vranich
Taj Whitehead
Alaina Wong
Westmont College
Stephen Deakins
Madeline Steinbach
Sophie Stoddart
Washington State University
Isabella Franco
Lilly Seamans
Gonzaga University
Henry Thau
University of Washington
Luke Gayton
Hanson He
Abigail Waisman
Boise State University
Zander Zupon
Montana
Montana State University
Jack Simmons
University of Oregon
William Lyle
University of Utah
Gianni Battaglia
Connor Bradley
Brian Carroll
Hayden Edwards Nolan Kalty
Grace Kaplan
George LaBreche
Arizona
Arizona State University
Stephanie Cathcart
Tyler Gonnerman
University of Arizona
Anne Slingsby
Jadon Watts
Brigham Young University
Avonlea Coon
University of Colorado, Boulder
Caitlyn Barley
Hobbs Brannan
Makayla Brock
Griffin Gallien
Molly Hart
Mason Jones
Charlotte Smalley
Armed Forces
Naval Academy
Elsie delaCruz
Daniel Sung
Air Force Academy
Alex Lee
Spain Ariana Sheldon
Southern Methordist
University
Sandro Bonvechio
Ross Borden
Sarah Keller
Oliver Knotek
Thomas Manth
Dyton Orr
Daisy Warner
Angelo Ungaro
Colorado School of Mines
Maximillian Behzad-Asiri
Colorado College
Milo Daluiso
Texas
Texas
Kiana
Kaitlin Cobb
Sierra
Mia Vulin
University of Texas,
Austin
Toronto, Canada
K.dot University
Derek Larkins
Bentley University
Grant Kraemer
Sean Winbush
Boston University
Aidan Shen
Ava Simpson
Kaiden Suh
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Katherine Gardner
University of Chicago
Sedona Ding
University of Indianapolis
Jackson Rucker
University of Missouri
Cate Lucas
Washington
University in St. Louis
Vanya Agrawal
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Alexander Naehu
Northeastern
University
Karen Hori
Hana Wright
Amherst College
Rose Feng
Michigan State University
Rayan Hashemy
Niko Pasquariello
Ryan Schilling
University of Michigan
William Corry
Alyssa Delgado
William Gray
Micheal Mackiewicz
Victoria Messano
Kylie Mone
University of Indiana, Bloomington
Lola Regan
Purdue University
Austin Jones
Columbia University
Peter Chang
Syracuse University
Maya Rosales
Pace University
Jake Weyrick
Carnegie Mellon University
Zayan Adame-Geffner
Pennsylvania State
University
Ysabelle Kern
Rylee Ricard
Ohio State University
Stephanie Prado
Sean Sun
University of Northwestern Ohio
Austin Roach
Denison University
Nation Dixon
University of Tennessee
Mia Dominguez
Ashlyn Jensen
Vanderbilt University
Braden Colli
University of Mississippi
Lukas Lizdenis
Tulane University
Donovan Cicero
Ava Harkavy
Lauren Peckovich
University of Alabama
Adam Hardesty
Auburn University
Lauren Eades
Nathan Yakubik
Fordham University
William Lokier
Marymount
Manhattan University
Rachel McGinty
Union College
Curran Maguire
Connecticut
Trinity College
Andrew Hirai
Rutgers University
Timothy Lee
Towson University
Riley Padian
Wake Forest University
Micheal Decker
Tate Rioux
South Carolina
College of Charleston
Jordan Hernandez
Georgia
University of Georgia
Mia Colaruotolo
Ben Gardner
Alana Holcher
Cole Spanjol
North Greenville
University
Michael Tuberosi
University of Florida
William Jorczack
University of Miami
Shea Albano
Shaun Leone
Isabel Zaro
*Results from The Point newspaper senior surveys, Instagram bios/posts
*State placement not to scale
As college decisions roll in, there’s one important decision on seniors’ minds: where they’re spending the next four years.
For some, it’s a pretty clear cut choice – getting into your dream school makes choosing pretty easy. For most students, however, the decision is a bit more complicated.
College is one of the most formative four years of anyone’s life – it’s where you make lifelong friends, delve into your passions, and grow into a better person.
In deciding what college to attend, students should consider a whole host of variables. Location, size, and culture play huge factors in this decision. Unsurprisingly, academics and prestige are just one part of the equation.
Senior Rose Feng made a tough decision between UCLA and Amherst University, ultimately deciding on Amherst.
“I’m applying as a Psychology major, so that made my decision a lot harder because UCLA has a really good Psychology program, but I originally wanted to go off to the East Coast. So it’s a new place, new vibe, different from the West Coast, different from LA.”
There are many different ways to choose which school to attend. For some, a tour on campus can be a deciding factor. For others, making lists and scoring the
schools is more helpful. On the decision itself, Feng made a list of different factors she would consider – cost, location, academics, and others. She ranked them out of 10 points and chose the higher
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the cost of college.
The costs for private national universities have increased forty percent in the last twenty years, with the average cost for private, nonprofit university students being approximately fifty five thousand dollars a year.
The estimates for in-state colleges are slightly better, with the approximate cost being twenty seven thousand dollars a year.
Associate Principal DJ Hill, a University of California Santa Cruz graduate, says “I believe it was just over ten thousand dollars a year for tuition, and I went from 2007 to 2011.”
Compare that to the current cost of UCSC, where the average cost after aid is approximately nineteen thousand dollars a year.
However, whether it’s a private or public university, the cost of college has provided a challenge for students across the country, with many having to seek out scholarships or take out student loans.
According to data from Search Logistics, fifty eight percent of US families use scholarships to help pay for college in some way. For those who do not receive scholarships, student loans are another option.
Across the country, 43.5 million Americans have some sort of student loan debt, with the debt carrying into the adult lives of many.
Hill says, “I’m 35, many of my peers, classmates, and friends are still paying off their college loans even in their mid30s, so it’s definitely a major factor when determining what school you’re going to go to.”
This sentiment rings true for many
(Graphic by Zoe Barton)
seniors, with the cost playing a major factor in the choosing of their college. For others, tuition cost is less so.
Senior Rose Feng, attending Amherst College, said, “Tuition cost was a factor, but it was not the most important in making my decision.”
With the rising costs, there is a growing question as to whether the traditional liberal arts education is worth it.
According to The Hechinger Report, mechanic and repair trade programs saw an 11.5 percent increase from the spring 2021 to 2022.
There has also been a decrease in college graduates with liberal-arts degrees over the past few years, as mentioned by the Wall Street Journal. Should those numbers ever increase again, action is needed to make college affordable once more.
ranking school.
“I think ultimately it wasn’t up to the list, but more how I really wanted to branch out later in life,” said Feng. “It’s going to be hard making a decision,
and with [schools] so different, it’s even harder, what with UCLA being a large public school and Amherst being a small private school.
They’re very different, that makes it so much harder than people think it is.
“You want both experiences and both of these could be good for you, and you never know. But I think you should go with your heart and pick one that you know ‘if I pick this one now and in the future even if I don’t like it I won’t regret this decision,’” Feng said.
For Feng, LA is always a second option for graduate school, so exploring independence and the East Coast were higher priorities for her.
“Amherst is a small liberal arts school and it’s also open curriculum, so I’m going to be able to choose what I want to take and build my own classes.
“Also, they have a lot of close relationships with professors, so I’m excited to get involved with them one on one and do research in psychology.”
To all future seniors, Feng advises just following your gut.
“Apply to the colleges you would really love to get into, don’t stress yourself out with applications, don’t stress yourself out doing everything you could possibly do because in the end, a lot of things don’t matter all that much.
“Just do what you can and enjoy your high school life because you’re only going to be a kid once in your life.”
As high school seniors across the nation await college acceptance letters, the harsh truth of the increasingly competitive nature of college admissions becomes clear.
The year 2024 saw an increase in college applications, combined with record-low acceptance rates at elite universities, marking yet another challenging cycle for prospective undergraduates.
In recent years, the number of college applications has hit all-time highs. Both private schools and public universities saw double-digit growth in applications, indicating a growing demand for higher education.
Despite the spike in applications, universities have maintained relatively consistent entering class sizes, resulting in a drop in acceptance rates.
Harvard University, known for its strict admissions standards, recorded an acceptance percentage of just 3.3%, closely followed by Stanford University at 3.7%. Other Ivy League colleges, such as Columbia University, Dartmouth College, and Yale University, had admittance rates of about 4%.
Similarly, prestigious technological universities such as MIT and well-known liberal arts colleges like Brown University had admittance rates of less than 5%.
The growing number of students choosing the Early Decision or Early Action application paths is one element contributing to increased competition. These accelerated processes give candidates an edge, as institutions frequently fill a large number of their freshmen classes from the early applicant pool. Notably, universities such as Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania admit more than half of their
incoming classes through early application programs, which increases competition for regular decision applicants.
In response to the overwhelming dominance of early candidates, certain elite schools have put in place mechanisms to level the field. Cornell University and the University of Southern California, among others, have regulated the number of students admitted through early application channels in order to ensure equal opportunity to all applicants.
Furthermore, the revival of standardized test requirements has added a degree of complication to the college admissions process.
Standardized testing, which was initially postponed due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, has resumed at numerous notable universities, including Brown University, Dartmouth College, and Yale University.
Proponents say that standardized test scores provide a standardized criterion for measuring student performance across varied educational backgrounds, making them a useful predictor of academic achievement in college.
Amidst these challenges, high school seniors must navigate an unpredictable and competitive landscape.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful year. With so many qualified applicants vying for limited spots, it feels like a lottery sometimes. You just hope your hard work pays off,” said senior Camden Friedman
As the college admissions process plays out, students and educators alike emphasize the necessity of resilience, endurance, and holistic self-expression in navigating higher education.
While the path to college acceptance is laden with challenges, it also demonstrates the grit and perseverance of the next generation of scholars and leaders.
With housing applications coming up, it can get pretty confusing and stressful for seniors to decide what they want.
There are numerous options like being a commuter or the one being the most popular, dorms. Colleges allow for students to have random roommates or pre-selected roommates ahead of time.
Senior Cate Lucas will be going to University of Missouri next year and is currently trying to find a roommate.
“I’m looking for a roommate. I could either go to insta or one of my mom’s friend’s from work has a friend going to Costa that i’m trying to room with. I’m preselecting roommates so I can be with someone I know, rather than being out with a random person that I might not live with for a whole year,” said Lucas.
The popularity of icks in social media has helped students figure out what they might not want in a roommate.
“Icks I have towards roommates is old rotting food or the color scheme of the room like having two different colors in the room, it looks wonky. Also all the fluffy furniture is an ick because it’s not going to be furry it’s going
to be a gross worn out piece of furniture by the end of the year and everything sticks to it,” said Lucas.
Additionally, finding a roommate that has a similar personality to yours is equally as important.
“I look for personality. If they are funny, sarcastic, clean-ish, not the perfect person, just not a complete slob. I want someone with a similar-ish sleep schedule. Depending on the time of day I don’t care if they are loud or have friends, I just want them to be mindful like if i’m studying and maybe to go somewhere else, and someone that fits my size clothing just in case,” said Lucas.
Senior Lisa Linginger, who will be going to the University of San Diego next year, said that adventurous roommates would be ideal for her.
“I’m looking for someone who wants to go out and explore the town with me. I want to go to new places and make lasting memories with friends I meet in college,” said Lininger.
Many colleges across California have increased the size of their student body to try and accommodate for record breaking amounts of applicants. This has resulted in many dorms becoming crowded triples.
“I want two roommates, so
I’ll be staying in a triple. Some things I look for in a roommate are people that are clean. I also want someone who doesn’t stay up late being loud,” said Lininger. Red and green flags are also very important when picking a roommate.
“Some red flags I have are if they’re messy, don’t have the same taste in music and some green flags, are that they like to go out, like the same TV shows, similar interests,” said Lininger.
Overall the college roommate process can be hectic but in the end worth it by being able to make lifelong friends and amazing memories.
In its March 12th edition, the Wall Street Journal highlighted the challenges of the 2024 college admissions season, describing it as the “most confusing and chaotic in years”.
This complexity arose from a confluence of events, including updates to standardized testing requirements, new legislation surrounding affirmative action, and delays in federal financial aid.
As a result of these changes, universities implemented new standards and expectations that often required students to rethink traditional application wisdom.
To the frustration of students and parents alike, application recommendations and strategies seemingly shifted day by day, and nobody could provide concrete answers or advice.
Although the future of college admissions is impossible to predict, certain things will remain constant - in this article, we intend to elucidate that which we can, hopefully informing future applicants.
A sincere message from two PVHS seniors: this is what we
wish we knew before applying to college.
According to a release from the Common App, the 2023-2024 academic year observed a 30% increase in applications.
On average, each student applied to more schools than in previous years.
Many students reported to have used a “shotgun approach” (applying to as many schools as possible).
The inherent issue is clear: when everyone adopts this strategy, those who don’t are at a disadvantage. Thus, everyone follows suit, perpetuating the cycle. As such, our application season was a lot of work. Take it from senior Christopher Lachowicz: “I wish I would have known how much work it would be. I guess I knew… but I didn’t know physically. Applying to schools while simultaneously doing school was difficult.”
He isn’t alone; this sentiment is shared among most PVHS seniors.
Our advice is: start early. It is only in the face of an impending deadline that one truly recognizes how much work they have left to do.
Editors-in-Chief
Chloe Choi
Jonathan Liu
Adviser
Cynthia Mindicino
From us to you, please, don’t allow yourself to be left behind.
Before you can start, you have to know where to apply.
Many PVHS seniors found they were limited by information.
Senior Stephanie Prado said, “I wish I would have known more about out of state schools. In California, the UC schools are so well-known that my knowledge of other options was limited mostly to the Ivy League schools.”
Prado added that she feels California students are very California oriented, and often disregard schools in other states.
Data supports her assumption. In 2024, California universities experienced an increase in applications from California residents.
To navigate this crowded landscape, certain students found applying under a less competitive major to be a strategic move.
Popular majors such as Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Business, and Nursing have become significantly more competitive.
For instance, schools with overall acceptance rates around 40% might have acceptance rates as low as 10% for these high-demand programs.
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This is due to the surge in interest in STEM fields and the perceived job security and high salaries they offer.
Consequently, admissions committees have raised the bar for entry into these programs, often favoring candidates with outstanding academic records and substantial extracurricular achievements directly related to their field of interest.
By selecting a less competitive major, students might increase their chances of admission.
This approach requires careful consideration of the school’s policies on changing majors and the feasibility of transitioning to the desired program after enrollment.
For example, some universities have streamlined processes for changing majors within the first year, while others might require additional coursework or a separate application process.
Another effective strategy is leveraging early action and early decision programs.
These programs allow students to apply to their top-choice schools earlier than the regular admissions deadlines.
Early decision (ED) is binding, meaning that if a student is
Staff
accepted, they must attend that school and withdraw all other applications.
Early action (EA), on the other hand, is non-binding and allows students to apply early without committing to attend if accepted.
Applying early can demonstrate a high level of interest in the school, which can be a favorable factor in the admissions process.
Additionally, many colleges fill a significant portion of their incoming class through these early programs, which can mean higher acceptance rates compared to regular decisions.
The college application process is undeniably complex and often overwhelming, especially during such unpredictable times.
As you embark on this journey, remember to stay organized, start early, and keep an open mind about your options.
Research thoroughly, and don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance from counselors, teachers, and peers.
From our experience as PVHS seniors, we hope our insights and advice help make your application process a bit smoother.
Good luck, and stay determined!
With summer vacation just around the corner, plans to travel, work and relax are in full bloom.
Whether it is flying to a different continent, getting a summer job or simply spending time with family and friends, Sea King seniors give a glimpse into a wide array of summer plans.
“I plan to work a job in order to get money for my college career. I will go on vacation as well and take it easy.”
“I will be mostly working at Rebel Republic as a food runner and Catalina Express on the boats.”
RaynaVolman
“I plan to prepare for my dance show, go college dorm shopping, learn how to skateboard, and visit family out of town!”
VanyaAgrawal
“I am going on a three day hiking trip with a bunch of friends. I am also a camp counselor at an all girl’s summer camp. I am also going to Prince Edwards Island and Nova Scotia for a senior trip.”
AvonleaCoon
“This summer, I’m taking a trip to Greece to travel the country!”
GraceMoore
“This summer I plan to go on my senior Europe trip with my friends, then when I get back I’m going to take EMT courses and also work a part-time job.”
Masnov
Kristian
“This summer I am going to Lake Tahoe with my friends and am going to spend as much time as possible with my family before I leave for college. I am going to be working all summer long, too!”
MiaDomiguez
“I plan to travel this summer! I want to go somewhere tropical where I can just relax by the beach.”
GabbyDiCamillo
“I really just want to enjoy the time I have here before I leave off to college.”
Sean Winbush
“I am going to Spain for three weeks at the beginning of summer then I’m coming back home to spend as much time at home with my friends and family.”
Ysabelle Kern
“I’m going to travel within China and visit relatives, and visit Japan.”
Rose Feng
As summer is approaching, PVHS seniors scavenge for their next move: summer jobs.
A job is a great way to stay sharp during the summer.
Having a summer job gives much needed structure and productivity within a final relaxing summer for high schoolers.
Sierra Smith, a senior at PVHS, is looking forward to having a summer full of balance.
Smith is a sales associate at a clothing store in the Riviera. She believes the key to enjoying her job is a good work-life schedule.
“I like that my shifts are short, so I never get bored,” Smith said.
Even when it’s not super busy, Smith finds she is still able to be productive.
“When there’s no one in the store, I’m able to do my homework. It’s almost like getting paid to do it.”
Having a job also has a lot of takeaways that will help in the future, it can help students decide what they want to do for a full time profession.
It reveals things such as what Sea Kings enjoy doing, how long they can stand to work and social skills.
Smith added, “In the future, I know now that I want to have a job that I’m actually interested in, if I had a job just to make money I think I would get bored pretty easily.”
It also gives students better life skills, independence, and money management.
Senior Barsam Jaberi has found a unique and rewarding position as a security guard at Target.
Jaberi discovered the job through his friend, who previously held the position.
“I had a contact inside, so I was able to get it easier than others,” Jaberi said.
This networking advantage facilitated his entry into the security field, a testament to the importance of professional relationships.
Jaberi had to do rather extensive training to obtain his position as well.
Another challenge Jaberi faces is the fluctuating availability of work hours.
“The availability of hours is pretty hard. But other than that, it’s pretty fun,” he said. Despite this, he maintains a positive outlook and enjoys the work.
With a keen eye on his future, Jaberi plans to use his earnings from the security job for investing, a strategic move to build financial stability.
Jaberi aspires to become a private contractor or work in cybersecurity.
Senior Michael Mackiewicz works at Ralphs. Mackiewicz enjoys his job and the ways it has helped him grow socially and financially.
“I’ve saved a bit of money and the rest I usually spend on food and entertainment things,” Mackiewicz said. “I work with some of my friends so that’s [also] pretty fun.”
Moreover, working at Ralphs has allowed Mackiewicz to gain more financial independence.
Though Mackiewicz does not know what his professional future will look like, working in high school has taught him important life lessons.
“Even when things are rough, just push through it and it will be fine,” Mackiewicz said.
Working over the summer before school begins is just one great way to stay productive during a time of relaxation, while also gaining invaluable, real-world experiences.
Working a job can provide a source of income and can help provide important experiences for future careers.
Working at an internship program can give specific experiences and skills necessary for working in a particular field.
Take a summer class
Taking a class over the summer can give students the opportunity to earn high school and even college credits.
Doing volunteer work can benefit local communities and help foster meaningful relationships with others.
Palos Verdes High School has been hosting the annual boat races for marine biology and physics students for years.
The boat race consists of groups of 1 to 8 who build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape that can physically carry a teacher or staff member the length of the pool and the way back.
This project began as a team building and critical thinking
exercise. “In science, because it’s STEM, we’re trying to introduce projects that they can do from start to finish, and anybody can do something if you have a focus,” Marine Biology teacher
Marta Wood said.
The groups are limited to certain materials they are allowed to use to build their boats.
Senior Keegan Cross is currently taking marine biology and his strategy was to “Go in with the mindset of winning, and nothing else is guaranteeing us the win.”
Along with this mindset, his team wanted an advantage while looking for a driver who is “a competitive driver, who’s versatile and relatively light.”
Students can also use this project to demonstrate theircreativity. “[The boat race] presents students with an engaging project where a simple prompt of a boat race leads to many different designs and ideas among the teams,” said senior Derek Su.
Su’s team chose one of their favorite teachers as their driver, math and engineering teacher
Lorraine Norris
“[We wanted to] have a boat that kind of caves in at the middle so that the sides come up, and allow Mrs. Norris to paddle comfortably, although we did
think of sabotaging other teams first,” Su said.
During the race, spectators always enjoy watching, no matter the outcome of different teams.
“Just watching them, the kids
have a lot of fun,” Wood said.
“It’s hilarious. Even when they sink or you know the boats don’t work out, there is a standard for the boat, but even when it doesn’t work out it’s still fun to watch.”
