I remember the feeling I had when I got each of my acceptance (and rejection) letters. This is an exciting time in your life but when you start thinking about the cost, the distance, and the work ahead of you it can be overwhelming. Trust me when I say, you cannot make the wrong decision and the adventure you are about to embark on is worth every second.
Maybe you have lived in the same small town all of your life and you want something more. You want to be somewhere where no one seems to know you better than you know yourself. Maybe you are going because you love the football team or your parents went there. No matter what the reason, I’m sure it’s the right one.
My first piece of advice is to tour, tour, tour. Even if you don’t think you’re interested in the school, you should probably tour. I toured one school and thought I was set and I am so glad someone talked me into touring other options, even if it’s just to make sure. I thought I was set on Tennessee but when I toured the University of South Carolina, I knew it was home. The experience is different for everyone but when you get that feeling in your stomach you’ll know.
You will write countless drafts of your application essays and you will get sick and tired of writing about yourself. As much of a pain as it can be at times, apply to in-state back up schools. I know I had a backup for my backup just in case. My best piece of advice is to say what you did in high school AND why you did it. Don’t just list a bunch of things. Show your passion and you can get in anywhere.
So then you get your acceptance letter and you make your decision, but it isn’t a smooth ride after that. You still have to figure out costs, scholarships, housing, and everything else. I remember crying to my mom before I enrolled at USC because I knew it was expensive and I would be leaving home and I was honestly terrified I was making the wrong decision. It’s an exciting time but the hard work doesn’t stop when you get accepted.
Going to a D1 school was a lot different than my small town high school. I am sure it will be the same for you wherever you go. As cliché as it sounds, it is what you make it. You will be sitting in a class of 400+ students and you’ll feel overwhelmed. I was fine sitting alone in most of my classes because I could focus. But I also made a few friends that made it feel smaller. Your dorm or apartment will also make your experience very different. You could easily close your door and ignore everyone but I’ve met my life-long friends in my dorm. Having them made a large building of strangers feel more like home.
The ugly truth that no one tells you is that it’s a lot harder than it seems. On top of the school work, you will have to worry about being homesick from time to time. You will miss eating dinner with your family. I FaceTimed my mom when I was eating dinner alone to make it feel like I was back home. You will also most likely get sick at some point because everyone gets the “freshman plague” their first semester and you have to take care of yourself which is the worst. It is completely OK to call home and admit that being an adult is hard.
Deciding to go to a big college after being raised in a small town is intimidating. But it will be the best decision you ever make. You might doubt yourself at times and that’s OK, but don’t give up. The world is too big to stay in the same place all of your life. Meet new people, try new things, challenge yourself and most importantly, find out who you are.