The Catamount decided to interview one of the many amazing seniors at BHS, Soham Bhosale (2023)! This computer science genius is getting ready to graduate and head to college in a couple months. But before he can, we wanted to get some advice from him!

Ayana: Hi, Soham!

Soham: Hi! 

Ayana: Do you know what you’re majoring in?

Soham: Computer science!

Ayana: And how did you come to the decision for your major?

Soham: I’ve always liked puzzles and math as a kid. Then I realized how logical computer science is and how it’s almost like a puzzle, like when you got the code to work and it just turns to magic! I also like how computer science can be used to solve real-world problems, especially in the medical or economical field.

Ayana: What’s something you learned in high school that you didn’t expect to learn?

Soham: I learned to kind of let things go. Some things are not going to go as planned and some people regardless are not going to like you. I was very structured in middle school and such a perfectionist but in high school, I felt like it was best to let things go and not worry about every single detail.

Ayana: How long did it take you to learn that?

Soham: Probably until junior year.

Ayana: Who have been the biggest influences in your life during high school?

Soham: My parents, obviously. Friends and mentors at internships have also been very helpful.

Ayana: What are some regrets you had during high school?

Soham: The first was like I said before, not letting things go or not being a perfectionist. I feel like I would’ve done more. And obviously, having more fun. I was also very stressed about college. Once you come to the whole college thing, you realize colleges are very overhyped. People think it’s so hard to get in but it ends up working out. Stay hopeful!

Ayana: How did you “stay hopeful” throughout the whole college application process?

Soham: That just kind of came with realizing whatever happens, happens for good. Obviously when you start getting into schools, you start feeling more confident. 

Ayana: So, what’s a flaw you think is prevalent throughout the whole application process?

Soham: I think a big flaw is how it’s really easy to make things up. Really, I think the whole problem is that they judge you based on that whole application–a piece of paper. They haven’t seen the four years and they haven’t seen your struggle. What ends up on paper, your extracurriculars and your transcript don’t tell the whole story. At the end of the day, you know your own struggles and they’ll never get to see that. They’ll never get to see the struggles you may feel uncomfortable sharing. We’re very complex and it’s not black and white. People have different strengths and weaknesses and the GPA and test scores don’t reflect the commitments they may have at home or their effort.

Ayana: I think one thing you can get personal in, however, is the college essay. What were some difficulties you had writing that? Wait! Before you answer, how many college essays did you write?

Soham: I don’t know the exact number.

Ayana: Drafts?

Soham: Forty, I’d say. Yeah, forty.

Ayana: Forty essays?

Soham: Yeah, but some of them were like fifty to one hundred words.

Ayana: But what was the biggest difficulty in writing them?

Soham: I think it was telling a story in a new way that showed who I was as a person. Because we’re humans and have shared experiences, you might end up writing an essay that someone else has also written. But I think what sets essays apart, or at least what I liked from reading example essays, were the essays that showed the author’s way of thinking. I wanted to show my personality and thinking through them. Another problem is the word count, like Stanford wants just fifty characters! It’s really hard to encompass your personality.

Ayana: What advice would you give to students writing their college essays?

Soham: Don’t write about a topic just because the topic looks good. You should write what you’re passionate about and the passion should shine through. Obviously, that’s really cheesy but it ends up working. Essays are where you can get the most personal so make sure to get authenticity and showcase your voice.

Ayana: Lastly, what have you learned from the whole college application process?

Soham: I learned what I valued the most. In the college application process, you’re also trying to highlight important aspects of your identity so I learned who I was through that. We don’t think about these sorts of things on a daily basis but this process really allows you to because you’re trying to create that sort of craft that lets them match you to who you are. Like, oh! That’s Soham, the kid who does [computer science]! Make sure to stay authentic, of course. I also learned more about my life goals because they ask a lot about how stuff connects to my future.

Ayana: Alright that’s it, that’s the end. Thanks so much Soham!

Soham: Wait, was that good?

Ayana: Dude, that was so good.