There are many of us out there that wound up not going to their "first choice" college. Though I love my college, my senior year of high school, USC was not my first choice. Not getting into your first choice school is a hard hurdle to get over; getting into your first choice and realizing attending is not a realistic option for you is an emotional blow for which many soon-to-be college freshmen are not prepared. I didn't get into the Ivy League to which I applied, so I made my decision -- and it wasn't University of South Carolina. I initially planned to go to LSU, where I had gotten into the Honors College and where I would be close to my family that lives in Louisiana. Unfortunately, the money didn't work out because of a crazy issue with my residency classification, and it struck me that I would not be able to attend my "first choice," LSU. Despite the disappointment and heartbreak I felt in that moment, I can confidently say in hindsight that University of South Carolina is my First Choice.

Universities' different academic departments often have a lot of pull in students' decision-making processes. Going into my college-choosing process, I figured that I could get a quality English degree at any number of schools, so any specific department didn't sway my decision. Some people like to joke about how English isn't a "real" major; however, I have been in USC's English department for 3 years, and I have been thoroughly impressed by USC's English department for 3 years. In my department I have been totally wowed, and even outside of my department, I think USC has some of the greatest professors you can find on a college campus.

Another big component of my college experience (that is less specific to the general plight of those who are faced with not going to the first choice) has been being in band. A moderately-sized portion of my decision to go to LSU was the band. For the past two years, I have been a proud and happy member of the Mighty Sound of the Southeast, and I absolutely would not trade my experience in Carolina Band for any other student organization, period.

One thing that I think many people face when confronting the realization that you can't attend your first choice is a tough freshman year. Usually, everyone's freshman year is a little crappy -- if yours wasn't or isn't, then count yourself lucky, friend. Mine was a little crappy. In hindsight, I think I was still upset about the outcome of my college search, and that left me with lots of doubt and homesickness and just a general, moderate amount of unhappiness in my freshman year.

However, this all changed once I actually left my dorm room -- imagine that! Once I began making friends and finding my place, I now absolutely cannot imagine being anywhere else to pursue my undergraduate degree. Without USC I would have so few of the same people I have in my life. I would not have met some of my best friends or been involved in some of the organizations that are most special to me. I have made very meaningful friendships in my time at USC. I honestly don't even want to think about where I would be without the people I have in my life, and I owe it all to my decisions I have made since opting to attend my "second choice" school.

This anecdote is just one personal example, but I think I felt many of the same feelings and went through many of the same disappointments that most people go through when they go to their "second choice" school. I'm sharing my insights now, in hopes that I can keep someone from eating as much queso alone in my dorm room as I did my freshman year. This is the secret, friends, listen up: you are the one responsible for making it your first choice. You and you alone control your college experience. Any college can be your dream college when you are following your passion, surrounded by people you care about.

Oh, and also: GO COCKS.