Dear High School Senior Who is NOT Committed to College Yet,
It is almost the end of January and it seems as if everyone in your school has committed to college… EXCEPT you. By this time, Ivy week has passed and those genius kids out there have their lives all put together. If not committed to an Ivy League school, many kids are committed to early decision schools or schools with rolling admission. Either way you spin the situation, it seems as if everyone around you has committed to college. It is almost impossible to have a conversation with an adult who knows you are a senior because they immediately ask you where you are going next year. Well, I am here to tell you to take a deep breath and relax. Look around you because NOT everyone is committed to college. In fact, I did not commit to college until April 23. That’s right I did not commit to college until 8 days before decision day.
Looking back on it, waiting to commit to college was the greatest decision I ever made. When I got into my first school, the feeling was surreal. I had done it; I was going to college. However, it was not an acceptance to a school I had truly wanted. A few more acceptances rolled in and still, I was not hyped about going to college—I knew these schools were not for me. At the end of December, I got into a school I had really set my eyes on. The excitement was overwhelming and due to the stress of everyone committing to college I was very tempted to make a rash decision. However, I waited for more schools to come. Eventually, February hit and I got into University of Florida. That’s right I did not hear from one of, if not my top school, until the beginning February! Since I had always wanted to be a gator, I was tempted to commit right away. However, I had applied to California schools and my parents insisted that I wait—wait until MARCH. The wait absolutely killed me. UCLA and USC had always been my dream schools, but it was so hard to see if the wait would be worth it because almost nobody gets in to those schools. I knew that if I committed to UF before hearing from my California schools I would never truly know what my future could have been. So, I waited. In the middle of March, I received an email that I was accepted to the University of California Los Angeles. I did it; I had gotten into my dream school. I then flew to UCLA and toured immediately as time was ticking to make a decision. I arrived at UCLA just to realize that UF was what I had wanted all along.
So, was the wait really worth it? 100%. If I had to do it all over again, I would. I was able to confidently commit to UF with no ifs, ands or buts. I had gotten all of my results and it was truly my decision to make. On April 23, I placed my deposit to UF and was ecstatic. However, my college process did not end here. 6 days after May 1 I received an email that I had been pulled from Michigan’s waitlist. Just my luck. They couldn’t have told me 6 days earlier? Imagine the frustration. However, I had waited so long and endured the college process in its entirety that I was set on UF. There was no changing my mind and I had to trust my gut that I was making the right choice in remaining committed to UF. Now, that’s a crazy college process!
To all confused high school seniors out there, I know it feels like everyone is committing to college at this moment and all you want to do is commit as well. You want to celebrate and rep your new school. If I have one piece of advice, it is to wait until you are absolutely positively sure you are making the right decision. There is nothing better than committing and knowing you had all of your options in front of you with no doubts. In reality, it is only January. You still have 4 months to figure out what you are going to do with your life. It might be painful, but the wait is totally worth it. Here I am, in my second semester of college, without a doubt in my mind that I made the right choice. Everything works out for a reason and in due time you will find your new home.
Sincerely,
A college student who understands your stress
