Brian Difranco spent his high school days hanging out with police officers at the Livingston County Jail, where his grandmother worked as a cook in the kitchen. “It was fun. It was usually lively,” he said. “My grandma was an old Italian woman....

Applications are in. Scores are sent. Now it’s the waiting game. Most seniors have recently finished submitting college applications, and are now sitting tight for acceptance emails. The application process begins in junior year, when students begin...