Put “senior” in a sentence and it is usually surrounded by the words “graduation,” “-itis,” and “citizen.”

To the class of 2014, however, the word that comes to mind is “stress.” A key factor in the stressors of senior year are the costs,says senior Marisha Subia.
Among the myriad of costs seniors face, from graduation cap and gowns to senior portraits, applying to college is a heavy burden on the senior’s brain and their wallet.
Most of these costs come in the form of application fees–where schools charge roughly $50 to $80 per application. Add to that the $12 and $11 to send ACT and SAT scores to additional schools, and the fees add up.
“I’m spending about $770 for applications, $100 on the SAT, $150 on the ACT, and $88 in transcript requests,” said senior Rick Duenas. His grand total, all to apply to college, is about $1,100.
Some students, like senior Brian Tran, qualify for fee waivers that exempt them from the SAT and college application fees. “I’m not willing to spend too much,” he said. “I can’t.”
According to counselor Jeanne Mustille, fee waivers for UC and CSU applications can be found through their websites, with the main requirement being the student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Private colleges, however, must receive fee waivers through the CollegeBoard, which are turned in using the Common App.
Students that lie above the financial fee waiver cut off may be inhibited from applying to some schools due to the price tag.
“Total I’m looking at $300 for college applications, which is just 6 or 7 schools,” said senior Allysa Foot. “But I won’t go over $500.”
Duenas said, “I shouldn’t let price affect my college choice.” Yet his parents’ and his own pocketbook take the hit.
According to a USA Today article, college applications cost $40 on average with the most expensive college application coming from Stanford University.
Each students has a unique financial situation, but to senior Dan Tran, all students are investments. “Once we graduate, no matter what job we are, we’ll be an asset to society,” he said.
Some students believe more fee waivers should be distributed.
“It shouldn’t cost us [students] so much just to apply,” said Tran.
Foot and Duenas both believe financial aid should be based on merit. According to Duenas, it “makes it fair, for everyone.”
All of this spending amounts to one thing: the chance to be considered to attend the university.
“At the end of the day it’s worth it,” said Subia. “But I feel like the colleges are charging too much.”