As February and March of my senior year of high school rolled by, I watched nearly all of my friends pick their future colleges as I wallowed in the fact that I had no idea where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. I dedicated hours to researching different schools and went on over 20 college visits (yes, 20) with my parents. I never got that so-called “feeling” you get when you walk around a campus and know it’s the one for you. Why couldn’t I find the perfect school?
“Not everyone falls in love with a school!” is what all my friends were telling me. That didn’t change the fact that I ached for an answer when people asked what my top choice was.
By April, all of my best friends were wearing their new school colors with pride. While I was insanely happy for them, I longed for their excitement for the upcoming fall. Instead, I dreaded checking our high school's “College Acceptance Group” on Facebook and seeing my peers post their decisions. At this point I had narrowed it down to four schools: Westchester University of Pennsylvania, Salisbury University, the College of New Jersey, and Susquehanna University. With nowhere to turn, my family and I began picking names out of a hat (pathetic, right?). Next, I created a diagram analyzing everything each school had to offer for me, creating a points system with weighted categories. After realizing that with each pick I became more frustrated, and that my diagram was confusing, my mom suggested revisiting some of the campuses.
At her request, we scheduled a visit to Salisbury University on Accepted Students Day. My friends wished me luck as we headed to the eastern shore of Maryland in hopes that maybe I wouldn’t have to pick my future college out of a hat. There was nothing wrong with my previous visit to Salisbury; I just didn’t absolutely love the school. Upon arrival, my mom and I soaked in the warm sun and admired the beautiful weather we lucked out with on that March day. As we walked around and attended some of the day's planned activities, I pictured myself walking on the campus in a couple months, books in hand and talking with my new friends. While approaching the arboretum near the dining hall, I had a great feeling within me. It sounds ridiculous, but right then and there I decided that I was going to attend Salisbury University.
This isn’t a fairy tale about falling in love with a school. Not everyone gets that “feeling” in their gut as they’re walking around a campus for the first time. Sometimes it takes a second visit, or to let go of the vision of a perfect school. College is what you make out of it. If you invest yourself completely in the experience, you will enjoy it and love the school you end up at.
