This story is part of a series of profiles with alumni or students on the way to graduating.
Although college is hard work and challenging in different ways for everyone, the hardest part might come after. Deciding what comes next.
“I had missed a lot of the deadlines to go somewhere in spring 2025,” said Charlotte Fritz, a May 2024 art graduate who took a gap year to find her footing. “It’s difficult just because I feel like a lot of colleges make it very convoluted. I psyched myself out because of how daunting the process was.”
SCCC could be the finish line for some, but others, like Fritz, have other plans.
Application forms and finding the right fit for a college can be intimidating and time consuming. It’s something she is still figuring out.
“It’s really stressful because you think, ‘I’ve already been through two years of college and got my associate’s, so surely I’ll be fine!’” she joked.
As an artist, she has to submit a large portfolio to each school she applies to. It’s an added pressure–showing people her passion–but she wasn’t dissuaded.
“I think it’d be scary for anyone, but it’s a little scarier for me because I’m applying as an art major, so I have to put in a portfolio. They’re not just looking at if my grades are good, but also about the actual skill and quality of my work.”
The visual arts department at Suffolk helped greatly, Fritz said, providing her with the experience and skills that prepared her for the future. She said “putting my portfolio together wasn’t bad because in Suffolk, I was taught to document my art. When I got accepted into schools later on, I realized it wasn’t that nerve-wracking at all.”
