I am completely and utterly lost in the whole college selection process. I have very little idea as to were I want to go or which schools will accept my application. Naviance is of little help because I have no parameters concerning what I want or do not want. I really am not concerned with wether or not my college is small or large, or wether it is in an urban or rural area. I just want a school with solid academics.
The main problem with the most advice I have received is that everyone attempts to sell you a college. They tell you that its perfect for you or that you will love the campus, but how do they know there is not a more suitable college out there for you? They really have no idea. It seems like the whole college experience has been blown up so much that the most important thing is that you just get in somewhere. It does not even matter where, just that you get in. I am sick of losing my senior year to planning my years to come.
Rolf V.M.
I agree completely with you on your last sentence about losing your senior year to planning for college. All I think about lately is college, all my parents talk to me about is college and it kind of sucks. I always heard that senior year is supposed to be amazing but so far it's just been so stressful.
I'm sorry that you feel so lost. I understand that you feel like they are trying to sell a college to you that shouldn't be the way you look at colleges. Have you visited any schools? I've only visited two schools but from that experience I have kind of figured out what I want and so I am applying to schools that are similar to the ones I have visited. So I would first start with visiting schools and then build off of that. Also keep in mind that wherever you end up you will enjoy it.
For example I have a number one school that I am dying to go to and as of right now I have no idea what I will do if I don't get it. But also I know that I will be happy at any of the other schools that I am applying it. It will all work out in the end.
Posted by: Naomi Segal | 09/16/2010 at 12:09 AM
live your life in the now my friend. According to my psychology class, college is the number 3 reason for stress related issues in teens. I mean when you think about it, college is just a word... its not the shooter, its the bullet. Your family and friends have provided you with this gun of which your teachers and councilors have fired for you perhaps against your will. But the thing is, you feel like your spinning out of the barrel of your gun at an uncontrollable pace, when in reality, you are traveling in a linear direction predetermined by the society we live in. Choose to be a shotgun shell and break your mold. Authenticate your life and you will feel at ease. Also, you will have less of a chance of hitting an arab!
(DEEP)
Posted by: Bryan Johnson | 09/16/2010 at 12:33 AM
Rolf, I definitely feel where you're coming from but at the same time you have to realize that this is really meant to be a stressful time. No one claims that the college search will be easy (as you have come to realize), and honestly anything that has to deal with your future will come with struggles. There will have to be a huge effort on your part to decide on things like the size of the college, especially if you don't want to be one of those poeple that goes to a college just to go. Believe me though, I'm struggling with the same exact issues but in any case it will all be over in about three months (or not).
Posted by: Christian R | 09/16/2010 at 10:30 AM
Rolf, I completely agree with what you're saying. I feel like everything I do it somehow connected to college. Though I do think where you go to college is an important decision, I think it is built up a lot.
Posted by: Addison L. | 09/16/2010 at 06:52 PM
Rolf, I feel the same way. I have the hardest time talkingto adults who ask me the infamous question "So, where are you going to school?" I have gotten to the poing of talking about a school I am interested in and then changing the topic as soon as possible. I too do not have a definite list of school I would love to attend. So many of my parents' friends claim to have found the perfect school for me but it is hard for them to explain why I just need to go to a small school or why urban is the place for me. I agree its frustrating.
Posted by: Haley H. | 09/16/2010 at 11:03 PM
I know how you feel when talking about small school vs. big school, or urban vs. rural. When thinking about the college process I thought any of those would work for me, and I would most likely be happy anywhere I chose. The problem with being open to any type of school, and located in any place is that any school fits into your list. When those factors aren't necessarily important to you, you have to decide what matters to you, do you want a really great science program? or maybe you want to go into education? By deciding this, it'll be easier to narrow down the college choices. If you're not sure what you want to study, choosing a school that has a wide variety of majors and minors would be a good choice.
Posted by: Corinne M | 09/16/2010 at 11:11 PM
I feel the exact same way! I do not know what college I want to go to, and it is really frustrating when your friends say that they are already done with their college applications. I spend most weekends thinking about college, but the college application process is not like studying for a test to me. The more I look at it, the more confused I get. All of the colleges I read about just end up blurred together, and when you don't know exactly what you're looking for, it is impossible to find what school is right for you. Secondly, I agree that it is very nerve racking to know that there are so many colleges out there. How do you know if you are making the right choice? All I can hope for is that I make it through my college application process before it is too late!
Posted by: Brian Abarbanel | 09/16/2010 at 11:38 PM