As we get closer and closer to the upcoming school year, it's hard not to reflect on the amount of work and deliberation that went into finding my dream school. Finding the perfect school for me seemed like such a huge task two years ago when I was starting senior year. Now as my sister and her friends are starting their selection process and reminding me of just how stressful it is, I want to put out the public service announcement: You WILL end up where you are meant to be.

When I was beginning the application process, I really had no idea what I was doing or where I wanted to be. My parents had tossed around the names of a few schools that they thought it would be cool for me to go to, and I basically built my list around that. Stressed as I was, I took the wrong route. I applied to two schools with an early decision application, got two early decision acceptance letters, toured and picked one. That was it.

Luckily that plan (or lack thereof) worked really well for me but please don't do that. Visit tons of schools- every single one that you are considering. Even small details about campus can make it feel like somewhere that won't be home for you and it's much better to know and take it off your list rather than choose it and end up hating it.

Get in contact with people who run the program you're interested in at the schools you are considering. A school could be everything you want but if they have a poor set up for the program that you want to pursue, what's the point? You should also be looking into alum and what they do post-graduation. If graduates aren't getting hired- you probably don't want to be there.

Student life is also much bigger than people think. If you are considering living on campus, you have to put thought into whether or not the community you are entering feels like somewhere you could call home. Nine months of the year (at least) are going to be spent in your dorm or apartment so you should probably like the campus and people on it. If not, you'll be spending way too much time in your 15x20 room and that could drive anyone crazy.

The hardest part of applying, for most people, is the denial that may come from schools that you could see yourself attending. Just remember that the selection process is there for a reason and you're going to end up being accepted to the school that is the perfect fit for you.

If it really comes down to it and you have no idea where to go...

no one has ever gone wrong with THE Ohio State University, #GoBuck