You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I’m telling you why: final college applications are due in less than two weeks.

SOMERS, N.Y. —This Christmas season, Kennedy Catholic seniors are touching up their final applications before the final January 1 deadline. Some have already heard back from their early decision schools.

Last year, Kennedy Catholic made history with four early action acceptances to the University of Notre Dame (all four attended) and a national merit scholar finalist to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Even more impressive, the Class of 2025 earned over $54.7 million dollars in merit aid, including three NCAA scholarships.

While many universities are now experiencing an influx of applications due to test-optional policies, Kennedy Catholic students are standing out with stellar scores. Since implementing the full-year PSAT program, aimed at bolstering standardized testing performance, Kennedy Catholic has one of the highest average SAT scores in Westchester County—on par with Scarsdale and Horace Greeley. The school also provided fall testing opportunities for seniors in the midst of nationwide cancellations.

This year, Vassar College accepted a Kennedy Catholic senior (fewer than a quarter of all applicants are admitted) with a full-ride scholarship. Another senior, Jack McInerney, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships from both Manhattan College and Siena College. McInerney is grateful for all of the Guidance Department’s help: “I’m especially thankful for the hard work of Mr. MacDonald. Paying for college is no longer a worry, nor is attending the college of my dreams.”

Kennedy Catholic’s most popular colleges remain the same from last year: Villanova University, Sacred Heart University, Siena College, Manhattan College, and Pace University. Many students have also opted for the new instant decision program—the opportunity to interview with college admissions representatives and learn of admission that very day. Mercy College, Pace University, Siena College, St. John’s University, and Manhattanville College all participate in this expedited program, and give students the chance to be granted admission to their college of choice without even leaving the school.

The Gael Winds Reporting Team will continue to provide updates as results are released.