colleges answer new questions arise new york times article series get trace progress new york city high school senior reuben quansah gerta xhelo jed resnick hectic college application process final year high school life converge process problem financial aid play crucial role final choice qaunsah african american teenager xhelo albanian immigrant acceptance meaningless accompany substantial aid resnick upper middle class student collegiate school manhattan hard choose college accept photo m colleges answer new question arise site index site information navigation section search skip content skip site index new york today paper new york colleges answer new question arise advertisement continue read main story support continue read main story jane gross article original context section page buy reprints view timesmachine timesmachine exclusive benefit home delivery digital subscriber plenty wait worry test take essay write application mail gerta xhelo readie college interview flip flop stay home go away jed resnick continue high wire act perform study await word yale reuben quansah tend relationship school scout minority student hope financial aid windfall life new york city high school student converge hectic college admission process critical difference jed upper middle class boy collegiate school manhattan hard choose college accept reuben african american teenager cardinal hayes high school bronx gerta albanian immigrant grover cleveland high school queens fat envelope college mean come financial aid jed follow heart follow money mid february gerta receive acceptance letter baruch city university campus john pace live home option satisfy month early gerta vacillate want stay home day away gerta say old suppose change mind long long shot day tempt syracuse visit choice counselor roz sternlieb rose hill campus fordham counselor student thrive state higher education opportunity program program offer sizable scholarship remedial service promise low income student fordham program particularly generous staff caring little college office grover cleveland girl live campus close look family sternlieb begin pester heop office gerta early february dial memory stephie mukherjee fordham praise student particular benefit program attention xhelo sternlieb say like regular jello day gerta march interview gerta month jed reuben take grand tour comparison know bronx gerta unexpected glimpse college like residential student take school trip sugarbush vermont president day weekend eye opener come home album snapshot new friend crowd hotel room horse pajama eat vending machine junk food have time life morning interview gerta take long choose wear miss school period mother shpresa weigh result conservative dressy black slack red turtleneck sweater xhelo persuade gerta wear crucifix fordham jesuit school wall heop office cover plaque gratitude prior class melba diaz receptionist know student mom typical visitor current undergraduate stop mother hospital break engagement boy diaz like gerta spend nearly hour closet mukherjee impressed grit effervescence classic immigrant story gerta tell mukherjee worry heop pigeonhole second class student heop degree mukherjee assure fordham degree like girl emerge radiant unbelievable sound mother accept idea dorm gerta e mail day shocked glad gerta acceptance letter fordham arrive march say jump scream enter xhelos apartment barely hold translate parent gerta father zegir xhelo quietly dote daughter say proud time say loud gerta say extraordinarily fortunate recent study include title losing ground release week document poor middle class family pay rise share income attend public university normally affordable high education heop program new york fall inflation support student school year oppose gerta tell clung concern heop mark inferiority minute come new plan financial aid package syracuse arrive inferior fordham remedial service blue hour formal reply date gerta burst room 118a announce change mind sternlieb sputter gerta see syracuse heop service huge university far home lose way counselor gerta parent meet urge safe decision office door close counselor probe gerta thinking girl swear act responsibly insist parent fill gap aid package real cost unfazed graduate twice loan repay fordham gerta take virtual campus tour check rating find syracuse rank higher phone friend cousin go want someplace accept like anybody gerta see dismay sternlieb face think say seek approval sternlieb muster tepid enthusiasm gerta busy application year scholarship amoco money matter sternlieb help remember community service activity ask pass girl tube white fordham gerta say change jed resnick crucial months counselor jed parent accustom pay year private school tuition theatrical activity afford college education boy spare financial aid ordeal mean january february march pleasant cut school jed plenty time theater family production demand soliloquy edward albee zoo story turn direct star jonathan harvey beautiful thing collegiate benefit star turn professional performer happen collegiate parent kate burton tovah feldshuh simon jones crucial month counselor bruce breimer time diligence call college heavy docket collegiate applicant principle high school counselor call fact common private school high end public school rare inner city school aggressive counselor like sternlieb confidential call allow admission officer tell breimer running head final committee review breimer turn advocate candidate ready soften blow boy face rejection diligence ivy league school leave breimer alarm discover boy superb grade leadership position attract lukewarm interest time influence decision counselor research pass history similar applicant year past rank school ivies focus applicant case university mistakenly think candidate grade low breimer assistant faxed update information keep boy play come special interest case somewhat underqualified prominent parent situation similar legacy boy father mother attend school admission officer development office special child prepare donate half million dollar admission officer pressure student want look compromise breimer assure counterpart particular boy strong raise red flag boy overcome learning disability breimer tell admission officer accept ivy league school parent attend prefer college judge popular ranking yield percentage accepted student matriculate breimer like alert admission officer waste offer make strong statement condone scalp hunting gluttonous tendency today student dozen application collect acceptance brag expense candidate certain senior breimer blood oath choice college accept pass information college whisper ear boy admit breimer say go step tell boy safety school lock give set admission officer opportunity improve yield breimer try help student shoal rejection jed april boy go online find fate yale sorry tell pop breimer boy elbow cushion blow tell good news come jed accept tisch school arts new york university vassar wait word harvard williams brown jed hope breimer wink nod mean brown acceptance way brown jed tentative second choice blood oath twin brother micah brown post result web take day boy hear micah ordeal jed hard decision remain willing forgo intellectual stimulation liberal art tisch specialized training go school micah good idea maybe vassar fine theater department compromise breimer urge boy sweet time revisit college return tisch sour jed quickly student complain nontheater course say plus conclude need city linger bitterness parent divorce father august remarriage visit vassar end similarly feel small incestuous people surprisingly say hand brown delight brother accepted student travel providence special amtrak train go class call latin love elegies see cappella performance learn brown un brown jed imagine combine theater study classic secret little ambition set cupid psyche myth music brown know student write musical year reuben quansah intrusions income form parent assembly cardinal hayes well attend january deconstruct daunt form know fafsa free application federal student aid page questionnaire income asset require page instruction reuben mother maureen dowouna nortey take copious note bill lessa college counselor financial aid officer speak english spanish try explain blue section student information lavender parent way department education send form print capital letter eligible non citizen mean fill form ward court second marriage stepfather income count lessa roz sternlieb grover cleveland rule pat needy student primary constituency contrast bruce breimer jed counselor clueless wizard sell student ivy league school refer collegiate student need college scholarship outside consultant parent hayes sensitive financial matter reluctant tell lessa earn provide verification welfare reuben mother instance unwilling reveal income send fafsa form funnel lessa office personal business say give information clear reuben qualify heop require family income struggle tell say dowouna nortey work double shift nurse technician calvary hospital bronx go night school city college resume teaching career ghana make cry element fafsa presentation particularly hold attention federal guideline consider parent purpose calculate income law stipulate remarried woman like dowouna nortey include husband income contribute household long live day form file dowouna nortey list husband jonas confident follow guideline idea time house say money remain worry acceptance jed sweat ivy league wait april reuben mailbox brim good news february manhattan college take offer extra scholarship money commute dormitory space tight reuben school use system call rolling admission fix reply date elite college clarkson say yes incentive scholarship technique flat student interested await reply state university buffalo want reuben lafayette like bucknell seek increase minority enrollment restrict court ruling strike affirmative action state system good informal letter february bucknell reuben choice week ahead usual mailing give anxiety prevail time year think enjoy good news say invite reuben april open house accepted student early letter spring reception increasingly popular college admission officer way improve yield look well college ranking ivy league select college move notification date early april decade ago time roll red carpet money spend woo prospective freshman early letter bucknell please reuben free celebrate worry money say school give aid bucknell typical financial aid package cover annual cost tuition room board leave gap reuben visit fall group inner city student mark davies dean admission tell typical mean student pay bucknell davies tell work hard meet demonstrated level need go initial financial aid offer word want hear say time appeal need reuben mother arrive bucknell accepted student festivity hand financial aid information preferential package document say outstanding academic credential contribution cultural pluralism reuben cost year include tuition room board book travel incidental bucknell estimate school pay come federal pell grant federal stafford loan addition eligible campus job pay total need good get lessa tell smile dowouna nortey say reuben grin ear ear duck head get article series follow new york city student college application process day rule game day rush apply day decisions online audio interview student share experience apply college advertisement continue read main story new york times company nytco contact work advertise t brand studio ad choice privacy policy term service term sale site map canada international help subscription