public void checkIfEmailAlreadyInUse(String firstName,
                                         String lastName,
                                         String age,
                                         String hometown, 
                                         String email,
                                         String password) {
        logger.info("Checking to see if email already exists...");
        logger.info("User entered data: " + firstName + " " + lastName + " " + age + " " + hometown + " " + email + " "
                + (password == null));
        Candidate candidate = candidateService.findByEmail(email);

        if(candidate != null) {
            logger.error("Email: " + email + " is already in use!");
            throw new ApplicationException("Email: " + email + " is already in use!");
        }

        logger.info("Email is OK!");
    }