Elizabeth Gross addresses her message to prospective students who are just starting out the application and admissions process. She loves where she ended up but also just loved the journey itself! For a positive take on the college search, read on!

Dear prospective student,

Hello and welcome to the roller coaster that is the college admission process! I remember my time in your shoes, procrastinating every essay and assignment I had while eagerly awaiting the decision emails that would determine my whereabouts for the next four years. I thought I would never get through the torment and nerves the entire process brought, but luckily, I made it out fine in the end, just like you will too! I’m glad I found my four-year home at the University of Iowa, and no matter where you end up, I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

First, I’ll tell you just a little bit about myself, so you know who you are listening to! My name is Elizabeth Gross, and I am finishing up my first year here at the University of Iowa. I am currently a neuroscience and English and creative writing double major with a psychology minor, and I am planning on using these degrees to go to medical school. Because my end goal is to be a psychiatrist, I feel as the combination of these majors and minors gives me such a great background in the subject prior to my actual schooling. Iowa’s neuroscience program is renowned, and I am so blessed to have so many fascinating research opportunities open to me as well!

The University of Iowa made its way into my heart very quickly after I arrived in Iowa City, especially with its accessible downtown shops and beautiful green scenery all around campus. I was lucky enough to be able to take an Honors Primetime class, which is best comparable to a three-day workshop period for first year Honors students to be able to get to know faculty and other members. Mine was all about exploring Iowa City. I got to spend my first few days on campus roaming around the downtown area with a couple of other students! Not only was it super helpful for orienting and familiarizing myself in a new space, but it brought me closer to people in the honors program who, just like me, were just starting out their college experience and a little overwhelmed with it all. The entire experience made me feel less alone in such a larger city than what I was used to, and it taught me about all the support I had behind me from all the staff and administrators in the Honors program.

If I could give you any advice to help you through the admission process, I would tell you something slightly counterintuitive, but nonetheless applicable in my opinion: make sure to soak up the entire ordeal to its fullest! It sounds crazy, with all the ups and downs driving your emotions to new heights, but in some ways, if I could go back to that crazy time, I would do so in a heartbeat, just to be able to relive it all. Everything from first applying to colleges up to arriving at the University of Iowa and acquainting myself with the area has been the most hectic, stressful, and yet exciting experience I could have imagined, and I’m so thrilled that you get to go through the same in the coming months! No matter where you end up, I know you’ll end up loving it as much as I love the University of Iowa, and I wish you the best of luck in your college admissions process as well as in your upcoming college adventures.

With luck,

Elizabeth Gross