People say it a lot, and it’s actually very true. Coming from a girl who went to her local university, where you go to school is not the most important thing in the world.
In senior year of high school, most students are gathering all of their college acceptances and determining the school that’s right for them. Classmates left and right are choosing where they want to spend the first few years of their adult lives. Choosing between state schools, private institutions and even Ivy Leagues.
There’s the student who gets accepted to either a) their dream school or b) an outrageously high-rated school (followed with 500+ likes on their Facebook status).
The rest of the class gets stuck deciding where they "want" to go. But in the end, does it really even matter?
First off, it’s obvious that getting into a top school or an Ivy League is clearly an enormous accomplishment. Staying focused and determined in high school is quite tough, so kudos to those who made it through and ended on the strongest possible note for the next chapter in their lives.
For those students who got into a variety of great schools, in-state and out-of-state, private or public, be proud of yourself. But also remember that any school is a great school.
The whole point of going to college is to get a higher education. Nowadays, seeing which campus suits you best means, “Which school has the best social scene, where are all my friends going, where can I take the best pictures and is it the type of weather I like.”
That’s not what choosing the right college means. Instead, look at the types of majors each school offers. If you’re interested in research, does the campus allow student-led projects? If you’re looking into joining clubs it might be smart to see what the school has to offer. Are you sure you want to live far from home? If you want to study law or business, is the school located in a bigger city so you have more opportunities for internships/jobs? Or maybe if you want to study medicine, is there a well-known medical center nearby to gain experience?
Even if you end up going to a school that you know you originally did not want to attend, you will be fine. College is for learning, whether about academics or about individual responsibility. You will succeed anywhere you go.
The networking in your undergraduate years are essential for finding a path that's right for you. College is about paving the way for your future. Choosing "where" to go shouldn't be a priority, but rather, which path is going to best benefit your overall life? Even if you don't end up in the place you necessarily "want" to be in, just do your best to get good grades, meet people and grow as a person. You can do just that from any school in the world, and that's what it's all about.
