5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Applied For College
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Applied For College

College decisions don't determine the rest of your life, nor does it define who you are as a person.

Jessica Ma
Nov 26, 2018
University of Southern California
416
personal image
Eric Zeng

Fall is a stressful season for many reasons, but for high school seniors, this is the time for SAT tests, college applications, and worst of all: the first round of college decisions. As if surviving AP and IB classes weren't hard enough already, students must live through months of waiting just to see if the college of their dreams finds them a good fit for the school. When the admissions results return, some will be overjoyed, while others will be extremely disappointed. Regardless of the results, here are five things you should know about college admissions:

1. Just because someone else was accepted into a school and you weren't, that doesn't mean you're any less qualified.

College admissions are to an extent, random. Each university receives so many applications from students with excellent grades, extracurriculars, and essays that at the end of the day, in a pool of people with the same statistics, candidates are chosen based on luck. I have known people with higher GPAs, better test scores, and even more impressive extracurricular activities than myself receive rejections from schools that I was accepted to. I have also seen people who never tried in school receive admission to prestigious colleges. Just know that the schools you get into does not define who you are as a person.

2. Don't get too attached to a single university until after decisions come out.

This advice is extremely hard to follow, because everyone I know, including myself, had a dream college they wanted to attend. From prestigious colleges like Stanford and Harvard to the top career focused schools like California Institute of the Arts, everyone talked endlessly about the university they wanted to attend. However, this attachment to a single school also resulted in extreme disappointment when admissions results came out for many. Instead, do thorough research on colleges that fit the categories you're looking for, then once all college decisions come back, visit these schools and find the one that you're looking for.

3. Colleges want to see the real you, not what you think they want to see you.

Too many high school students write their personal statements revolving around a certain university's core values instead of truly using the precious few hundred words to showcase themselves to the college. Admissions officers only have an average of two minutes to read over your application, so don't write something that they have most definitely seen thousands of times before. Most colleges greatly value honest personal statements, so make sure you're writing your personal story on something that shows who you are.

4. Every college is worth considering.

There is no college too low on rankings and no college too "lame". Don't be afraid to apply to a liberal arts college if you're set on pursuing a career in humanities. Don't be afraid to apply to culinary school if you want to become a chef. Don't refrain from even applying to a college because the tuition is too high, because often times, these colleges also offer generous financial aid. Apply to every college you have an interest in while you still can, because you don't want to end up at a university and wonder what could have happened if you had just had the courage to apply to a less well-known school that you really liked.

5. You can learn to love whichever college you end up at.

Even if the university you end up attending was not your first choice, second choice, or even fifth choice, college is all about finding your niche. No matter where you are, university is so big that you will be able to find a group of people who will become your support system for the rest of your life. Don't get hung up on not getting into other colleges, but instead, focus on how you can make the best of your four years at the one you're at.

college admissions
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

Siena College
16661
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
small towns
Relationships

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you.

University of New Haven
294488
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College
90702
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
waitlisted
Swoon

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

National Writers Society
152997
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
single life
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

Marist College
62479
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments