What do you think?
Rate this book
Thank You for Applying
Jorie Haywood’s senior year of high school is going precisely according to she’s taking all the AP classes she wanted, she’s the backstage manager of the school musical, and most importantly, she’s just waiting for an acceptance letter to her dream the University of Florida. Nothing can ruin these last few months.
That is until she gets waitlisted by UF.
Embarrassed by her failure and anxious to correct it, Jorie throws herself into a competition designed to encourage student involvement in local government to attract the attention of college scouts. If she wins, it might be enough to get UF to reconsider their heinous error. When the musical gets shut down due to a lack of funding, it provides the perfect project topic.
Jorie’s motivation morphs into a frenzy to win by any means, threatening to drive away her project partner and best friend Wesley who doesn’t understand the urgency—after all, she’s been lying to him about her admissions status. It doesn’t make it any easier that she’s pretty sure Wesley likes her, and she’s starting to think she might like him too.
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the balls she’s juggling, Jorie starts to worry about what will happen if she lets any of them drop, realizing that maybe her priorities aren’t what they once were. Maybe part of growing up means that your goals for the future change.
That is until she gets waitlisted by UF.
Embarrassed by her failure and anxious to correct it, Jorie throws herself into a competition designed to encourage student involvement in local government to attract the attention of college scouts. If she wins, it might be enough to get UF to reconsider their heinous error. When the musical gets shut down due to a lack of funding, it provides the perfect project topic.
Jorie’s motivation morphs into a frenzy to win by any means, threatening to drive away her project partner and best friend Wesley who doesn’t understand the urgency—after all, she’s been lying to him about her admissions status. It doesn’t make it any easier that she’s pretty sure Wesley likes her, and she’s starting to think she might like him too.
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the balls she’s juggling, Jorie starts to worry about what will happen if she lets any of them drop, realizing that maybe her priorities aren’t what they once were. Maybe part of growing up means that your goals for the future change.
246 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2024
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 20, 2024
What a sweet debut!! I’m gonna need more romcom content from Kristen going forward because I was sooooo kicking my feet hehehe
July 16, 2024
What a great YA read with a lot of heart. Great for middle school or high school readers to read about finding what they want and finding themselves in the process!
February 4, 2025
If you're thinking of reading Thank You for Applying, allow me to submit an "application," so to speak, with reasons for you to consider.
1. Relatable high school storyline: College application season is a time of great stress for many high school students. Early readers of TYFA have said that this was a glimpse into the high school experience and that it authentically portrays that period of time. Want to reminisce about high school? Currently a high school student who wants to be understood? This is for you!
2. Florida setting: Jorie lives in central Florida, and there is lots to love about that setting! There are bonfires, small town quirks, music festivals, local businesses, and more! Several Florida universities make some appearances...
3. Driven female main character: Jorie has big goals for college and her life, and she is not going to let anything stop her from achieving those goals! Jorie finds ways to merge everything she loves into one, and I wanted young adult readers to see that that is possible.
4. Romance sub-plot: Who doesn't love a romance sub-plot? Jorie's relationship with Wesley is one of my favorite things about this book.
5. Appreciation for the arts: Jorie's quest begins with efforts to save the school musical from shutdown. I was involved in theater as a student, and I am now one of the directors at my school, so it's a big passion of mine. I've even written a full-length play! The arts are so important, and I wanted to show that sometimes they face threats of shutdown, but they are so important to preserve. I wanted students to be the ones to save the musical because they're the reason they exist!
If those reasons haven't convinced you, then I hope you'll take into account the humor, the Disney references, and the clean, wholesome storyline. I wrote this book for young adults, but I hope adults will see themselves in it, too.
I hope you'll consider my "application," and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the story!
1. Relatable high school storyline: College application season is a time of great stress for many high school students. Early readers of TYFA have said that this was a glimpse into the high school experience and that it authentically portrays that period of time. Want to reminisce about high school? Currently a high school student who wants to be understood? This is for you!
2. Florida setting: Jorie lives in central Florida, and there is lots to love about that setting! There are bonfires, small town quirks, music festivals, local businesses, and more! Several Florida universities make some appearances...
3. Driven female main character: Jorie has big goals for college and her life, and she is not going to let anything stop her from achieving those goals! Jorie finds ways to merge everything she loves into one, and I wanted young adult readers to see that that is possible.
4. Romance sub-plot: Who doesn't love a romance sub-plot? Jorie's relationship with Wesley is one of my favorite things about this book.
5. Appreciation for the arts: Jorie's quest begins with efforts to save the school musical from shutdown. I was involved in theater as a student, and I am now one of the directors at my school, so it's a big passion of mine. I've even written a full-length play! The arts are so important, and I wanted to show that sometimes they face threats of shutdown, but they are so important to preserve. I wanted students to be the ones to save the musical because they're the reason they exist!
If those reasons haven't convinced you, then I hope you'll take into account the humor, the Disney references, and the clean, wholesome storyline. I wrote this book for young adults, but I hope adults will see themselves in it, too.
I hope you'll consider my "application," and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the story!
December 30, 2025
This book was great!!
I didn’t know what I was getting into with this at all, but the story was lovely. I loved the development within Jorie & the self reflection she showed.
A wonderful read for YA’s who may be a similar situation with the stresses of college and graduation.
Great Job, Kristen!!
I didn’t know what I was getting into with this at all, but the story was lovely. I loved the development within Jorie & the self reflection she showed.
A wonderful read for YA’s who may be a similar situation with the stresses of college and graduation.
Great Job, Kristen!!
September 7, 2025
This book was amazing! This will be a great book for high schoolers still struggling with college decisions and even adults can learn how sometimes your plans can change for the better! Way to go, Kristen! I am truly proud of you!
January 3, 2026
So boring!
I gave up early on. This was not well thought out. There were so many repeated things — do you think your readers need to be reminded on every other page?
I gave up early on. This was not well thought out. There were so many repeated things — do you think your readers need to be reminded on every other page?
July 18, 2024
This was a fun summer read! Jorie & her friends figure out what they want to do after high school. Lots of plans and new horizons to explore for their best lives ahead.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews