As you may know, I transferred to the University of Oklahoma; I didn't start here. Here's some advice for all those high school juniors and seniors searching for their perfect fit.
1. Having a dream school is great. Closing off all your other options is not.
I decided I was going to my previous college during my sophomore year of high school. Sure, I looked at other schools, but once I was accepted, I closed off all other options and didn't tour any other schools. I think this was one of my biggest mistakes in the college process, as I might have found I would have been happier somewhere else.
2. Actually use the tools that you have available to help you.
My school used naviance and while we all complained about all the mandatory things we had to do with it, it was actually really helpful. They had a great college search tool that would take all your preferences on literally every aspect of the college experience into consideration and ranked the colleges. College board also has a similar function that is fantastic.
3. Tour the campuses you're seriously interested in.
Nothing can replace stepping on campus and being able to really picture yourself being there and living there. It's your chance to see things for how they really are and not just the pretty pictures on the website.
4. Don't chicken out of asking questions.
The tour guides and representatives are literally there to answer your questions. These visits are about YOU. Take advantage of the time you have at the college with the people who go there. Most current students that you see walking around are usually more than happy to answer any questions too (unless they're headed to class)!
5. Location matters.
Make sure you're in a place where you can see yourself thriving. Be realistic with how close or far from home you want to be. If you're too far or too close to home, depending on your personal opinion, you won't thrive. Keep in mind if you like big cities or more of a strict college town. The different atmospheres will give you different experiences, so think about which one you want.
6.. Think "Would I be happy here if I changed my path?"
Even if you are dead set on your major, think about the possibility of wanting to add a minor or change your major if things don't work out. It will be much easier to change things up if you can stay where you are. When first coming to OU, I had changed my major and now I've added minors and changed my path simply because of the opportunities available to me here.
7. It's okay to not have everything figured out.
Making changes is good. It means you're developing into the person you were always meant to be. Trust me on this one.
Good luck on the college process, and feel free to reach out with any questions or if you need more advice :)
Rachel
