Dear University-Bound Senior,
Don't stress too much. You will end up where you need to be. Cheesy, right?
But true. Whether you have 10 universities to choose from or you have just one or two, things will work themselves out. No matter where you end up, you will fall in love. The new city will soon feel like home and the homesickness, although never 100 percent gone, will fade. You will love having the chance to live on your own, take classes you choose for a major you feel passionate about and meet people from all across the globe.
Even if you're feeling like you have no idea where to go or you're not excited to go to the university you've been accepted to, I promise that will change. You will find amazing people, great education and plenty of opportunities anywhere you seek them. You just have to open to finding that.
During my senior year of high school, I applied to six universities — five University of California schools and one California State University. I applied as a computer science major, not knowing that engineering majors were even more competitive at these already selective schools. With about five extracurriculars and a 4.3 GPA under my belt, I thought I was set to have my pick of where I would be living and learning for the next four years. But this was far from reality.
When spring came around, everyone was anxiously awaiting replies from universities and crossing their fingers for acceptances. My first reply was a rejection — I was rejected from my first choice school before anything else. With one acceptance from my current university, UC San Diego, I was then rejected from every other school I applied to.
I had never even considered moving to San Diego from my small town in the Central Valley of California, but I was left with a choice — to stay home or to follow what was clearly being laid out to me. So I went. And I love my school, my friends, my job and my life. I was open to the great opportunities I was being offered, and I fell in love with where I chose to call home.
So what I'm trying to say is don't worry too much about picking the "right" school. The school you choose will become the right school for you. And although this may sound like a bunch of cheesy talk now, think about it after your first term, and you will feel right at home at your university.
