Darian Juarez spent seven years of hardwork and dedication at Preuss and is now graduating and beginning the next chapter of his life. This is something that will be life changing for many seniors, such as Darian Juarez (‘25). Juarez is a bright minded student that prioritizes his studies and is fully dedicated to his success. He has committed to Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York.
Did you struggle with choosing what school to commit to?
“In all honesty, since I was little, I knew I wanted to pursue higher education in an Ivy League institution. So, with all my options considered, when I got into Cornell, I mentally almost immediately committed, ” states Juarez (‘25).
What is your major?
“My official major is called ‘Government,’ which essentially is an interdisciplinary study of Political Science. This means that when I start taking classes, I’m not confined to a few of them based on my major. Government is expansive so it allows me to study different subjects and areas of study. ”
What career are you hoping to pursue?
“After my undergrad, I hope to pursue my education in grad school, more specifically law. With this, I hope to focus on Constitutional Law and defend the rights of the people. However, my dreams don’t stop here; though ambitious, it is my goal to become a congressman and work in government. ”
What was your motivation to get through high school and your application process?
“Knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it sounds like a cliche, it’s the truth. It’s hard knowing that unfortunately, after graduation, there are another seven years ahead of studying… What got me through Preuss was knowing that at the end of my academic career, I’ll hopefully be a successful lawyer, doing what I love and being able to help both my family and my community. Throughout high school and even through the college application process, I knew that I had a specific goal in mind, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until I reached it. ”
What other schools were you considering attending?
“Aside from Cornell, I was also considering three other schools. I was considering attending Johns Hopkins University, Swarthmore College, and UCLA. However, in the end, another deciding factor was the financial barrier. JHU and Swarthmore were both making me pay roughly one thousand a year, whereas UCLA was making me pay roughly ten thousand. So, in the end, it worked out great as Cornell is not only paying my full tuition but also giving my money back. ”
What is the most impactful lesson that Preuss has taught you?
“It’s all up to you. Preuss is a phenomenal school that teaches you how to be a great and prepared student for college. However, that said, it’s all up to the students whether or not they’ll take what Preuss has to teach. Many nights I found myself in dire situations such as studying for a final, mid-term, and finishing homework. But it was not up to the school to do the work for me. I had to take action into my own hands, which sometimes meant having little to no sleep, and by little, I mean one to two hours. But here I am, on the path to graduating and being accepted into the school of my dreams. ”
Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
“Many things. In all honesty, I just wish that I had developed better study and academic habits. Procrastination is truly a big problem among students, and it’s something I myself do: procrastinate everything. Even when applying to colleges, I’d say that in a bit over ten of the schools I applied to, I wrote their supplements the day of (you can even see it on the Google Doc edits which will show you the time). So something I wish I had done differently is develop better habits that would have helped me to stop procrastinating and overall present better quality work. ”
What advice would you give next year’s seniors for their future college application process?
“Research your schools, especially the ones that are more closely aligned with your intended major. In the news, you’ll hear about students who get into 50+ colleges and receive millions of dollars in scholarships. But realistically, some of these students are just applying to schools to apply and tally up acceptances. It’s in your favor to spend ten hours completing the application for a school you’re excited about rather than using those ten hours to apply to ten schools you don’t even want to attend.”
“Secondly—every senior will tell you this, and I know it sounds super repetitive—but don’t leave your supplements until the last minute. Yes, many students have done this and still got into some pretty good schools, but when it comes time to ask a teacher, counselor, peer, mentor, etc., to look over your writing, if your application is due in even 4–5 days, it’s honestly kind of offensive to ask. Revisions take time, and sometimes one or two rounds just aren’t enough. Admissions officers are looking for quality writing and thoughtful students—students who know how to articulate themselves. So please, remember to finish your application days before the deadline so you have enough time to present the best writing you can.”
Darian is overall a great student that does an excellent job of demonstrating what it really means to put in the work for a successful future. He has gone out of his way time and time again to do the best work for himself and has done an amazing job of modeling what a good Preuss student looks like. Congratulations to Darian Juarez and we wish him the best for this next big chapter of his life along with the transition to Cornell University!
