Choosing a college is something many seniors spend hours and hours stressing over. We think that if we make the "wrong choice" it will negatively affect our lives for the coming years. This decision is a big one, and one that requires a lot of thinking. Since I am currently a senior and have gone through the decision making process, I wanted to share some tips that I learned when thoughtfully choosing my school. I'm no expert, but I have a few pieces of advice that I've gathered since going through the process myself. So, here they are:
1: You May Get "The Feeling", You May Not - And That's Okay.
Everyone talks about "the feeling" you're supposed to get when you realize you can visualize yourself at a school. Sometimes it just feels right. I personally got this feeling of connection to my school, but not everyone gets it - and it's totally normal and okay if you don't. There are many other factors to base your decision off of than just "the feeling."
2: Have A Backup School.
Even if you know what your dream school is from the start, have at least one - maybe even multiple - backup options. Though it's easier said than done, it's important to not put all of your eggs in one basket in case things don't work out with your number one. I promise you that you can be happy at more than one school!
3: Make A Pros And Cons List.
When I was feeling torn between my top two schools, I made a very detailed pros and cons list about what I loved and didn't love about each school. I then compared them and it really helped me see what was most important to me in a college.
4: Try and Picture Yourself Living Your Everyday Life At Each Of Your College Options.
Picture yourself going through your everyday life routine at all of your college options, and picture life in all of those college towns. Picture the environment that each school is in an ask yourself if it's one you can see yourself thriving in.
5: Decide If You Want Big Or Small.
Once you narrow this part down, the decision becomes a bit easier. You can then focus on specific aspects like which school has the best program for your intended major, the best extracurriculars for your interests, etcetera.
6: DO AN OVERNIGHT AT EACH OF YOUR TOP OPTIONS!!!
I cannot stress this one enough. For me, this was how I really decided between my top two. I did an overnight at each of them, and when I got home I evaluated how I felt at each of them and how I could picture my life at each of them. Then, I made a revised pros and cons list and everything became clear.
These are just a few things I've learned, and hopefully these tips can help anyone who is struggling with decision making! That being said, it's still a hard choice and just be sure to have weighed all sides and ultimately just feel good about your choice. You should be excited about your school! Even though I had a top two, I applied to other schools as well - and I could've been happy at any one of them. College will be what you make it! So ultimately, there isn't really a "wrong decision" as long as you are happy with what you choose. Good luck! :)
