Memorable moment: When I logged into my email and clicked on the status update link, the words appeared on screen: “Congratulations, you have been admitted to Princeton University!” I embraced my father, knowing he would have been just as proud of me had I gotten into community college.

David Fretz, Buffalo, N.Y., 18

Attending: SUNY-Buffalo

Expenses: I applied to nine schools, which cost $990 altogether. $40 to send test scores to each, and $70 for each application fee. In addition, I spent about $400 taking the ACT, SAT, 4 SAT subject tests.

Memorable day: Ivy day. March 28 , 2018. This day is marked by memories of crying so long in a vacant parking lot that someone called the police to make sure I was okay. I never thought I would be more embarrassed until I had to explain to two officers why I was alone sobbing while they tried to console me.

Image Kassey Hermitt is attending DePauw University. Credit... Courtesy Kassey Hermitt

Kassey Hermitt , New York, 18

Attending: DePauw University, in Greencastle, Ind.

Expenses: $65 visiting the University of Rochester for an interview and seeing the campus, $40 in traveling expenses by taking the train to Manhattan for interviews and $400 on my enrollment fee for DePauw University. All other expenses were luckily covered by my high school.

Memorable: The one day I remember this year was being deferred and then rejected from the University of Rochester! It was a Thursday afternoon in February. I received a depressing email. I felt so devastated. I had done everything right with decent SAT scores, good grades and lastly being super involved in my community.

Desperate acts: Going on social media and finding people who attend DePauw University. I asked them serious questions, so I could gain full insight into the school. I used the information I gathered in my DePauw interview to impress the New York representative! I got into DePauw with a full-tuition scholarship.