As college application season reaches its peak, Northwood seniors are navigating a hectic yet career-defining process. Everyone’s college journey is different, as students at Northwood have a wide range of priorities. Many athletes are hoping for a prestigious commitment and scholarship, while others are simply casting a wide net to keep their options open.

“It was stressful at the beginning and transferring from a different school, but I got it figured out and settled down. I am trying to play ACHA hockey next year, so I applied to schools with strong club programs and academics,” said first-year goalie Ethan Nau ’26. He applied to a handful of schools, including College of Charleston, George Mason, Ohio State, Elon, and South Carolina. “I wanted to apply to a variety of schools to give myself options. I am intending to major in finance.”

“I applied to Babson, Villanova, Colgate, and Queens,” said soccer player James Martin ’26. “The process was straightforward for me. What took the most time was revising the supplemental essays and questions, but Reno did an excellent job assisting me. I plan on majoring in business.”

“I am playing junior hockey next year, but I still applied to schools as a backup plan. I applied to Canadian universities Carleton and Queens—one for education and one for business law. I am still working on applications to American schools such as St. Lawrence University, Clarkson, Hamilton, and Arizona State University,” said second-year goalie Owen MacLean ’26. “The process was less stressful for me because I viewed it as more of a contingency plan, but I still took it seriously and applied to schools with a balance of athletics and academics.”

As the Class of 2026 waits eagerly for decisions to roll in, uncertainty mixes with excitement about where they will spend the next four years of their lives. Forty percent of seniors have already submitted applications, and the total number sent is approaching 200. There will surely be articles later in the year covering acceptances—so stay tuned!