Hey, it’s Decision Day! If you’re also a senior, we made it!! I feel the best I have in months.
Life has been stressful and crazy for a while, and not just because of college applications and everything- but that’s been a huge part of my life since I last posted, so I’m gonna talk a little about what I’ve learned here so I can get it documented somewhere and hopefully be of some help to someone. These are the things that helped me get to my decision, especially in the past (most stressful?) week.
1. College is so expensive.
I’m lucky that I've been able to depend on my parents financially, but it wasn’t really until I actually began my college apps that I realized how dangerous knowing nothing about money is. I’ve heard everyone say that college is expensive, but I didn’t realize the extent of that until too-small financial aid packages began basically ruling schools out. The advice I got the most throughout this decision was to find a good program, but also to save your money. The people who know me told me that I would only get better, especially because I work hard, so I would be okay if I had to give up the super prestigious, big-name schools until graduate school. (Vocal students basically have to get a masters degree because the voice doesn’t actually finish maturing until closer to your late 20s. Not sure how this works in other majors.) Getting into tons of debt that would potentially hold me back from those big-name schools in grad school with tons of connections would not be wise.
2. Visiting schools before applying is a very good idea. (If this isn’t possible, do it before you make the decision.)
That safety school you thought would never be an option when you applied? Yeah. Visit it. It definitely could become an option. If you can’t afford to travel like that or if you don’t have the time then don’t, but at least find current students who you can trust to tell you honestly what it’s like. I had a local school on my list that I applied to solely because I liked the faculty and the location. I knew pretty deep down that I didn’t want to go there, but I kept the practical, “this is a good backup option for me on paper” idea in my head and blocked the negativity out for too long. If I had taken a campus tour before applying, I don’t know that I even would have applied. I ended up visiting twice in the last weeks before making my final decision between that school and another school that I really liked when I visited, and being in the atmosphere of the school made the decision for me. Which leads me to my next point:
3. Pick someplace where you know you’ll be happy.
If you can only apply to schools like this, even better! Back to my little anecdote from number 2- when I visited that local school, I spent time around students (being there when class is in session is a huge plus) and knew I wasn’t going to be happy in that atmosphere. Even though the program looked good, I was already a little miserable by lunchtime just from being on campus. Sure, you’re going to college to learn, but you’re also gonna be learning about yourself, like any other place you’d be living for a long time. Don’t get yourself stuck somewhere you won’t be happy. You won’t be eager to work hard and learn if you’re dreading getting up to go to class and be with the other students every day. (Also, noticing patterns in where you like best is super helpful!! If your "logical” thoughts are getting in the way of what you feel, notice where you were happiest visiting. If you consistently love urban campuses, that’s a good thing to consider.)
I kept talking to others and looking online for advice as if someone was gonna tell me the right answer. After a while, I realized that everyone is different and has their own unique opinions- all different from my own because this is my own life. I was trying to find someone who would say what I wanted to hear, but I ended up loading my head with so many perspectives and facts and figures and stuff that I barely knew what I thought anymore. Spending time with yourself and figuring out how you felt on each campus, how you feel when making your decision, and what you’re really looking for is really important. Don’t settle for something you don’t actually want. It should feel good and make you happy to say you’ve decided.
5. Things don’t have to go as you expected them to.
I decided on a school that, a month ago, I didn’t think I would end up at. Once financial aid kicks in and college isn’t just something far off in the future anymore, things can change quickly. I had hoped that I was gonna end up at one of the reach schools on my list, and even though I got into some of them, I’m not going there- and I’m still really happy. I can’t even begin to say it. I’m beyond excited to go to school in the fall. And that’s how it should be, no matter what you think may happen on your first day of senior year. It’s gonna be okay.
