Choosing Your College

I can only assume that choosing a college is a lot like getting married.  When I submitted my application to Penn, I felt like I had just knelt down on one knee and asked the university to marry me.  At that point in our relationship, I felt as though I had done enough research to understand the nuances that make Penn unique, and my application was essentially a love letter proclaiming my desire to make it a part of my life forever.  As my mouse hovered above the intimidating “submit” button, my stomach was in knots.  My breath quickened, and I felt as though I might pass out.  What if Penn said no?       

For most teenagers, selecting a university will be the biggest decision of their lives thus far.  It is not a decision to be taken lightly; this is not equivalent to choosing an entrée for lunch.  Although it may seem extremely daunting, there are ways for an individual to ensure that he or she makes a decision that is “right” on an individual basis. 

I fell in love with Penn in the summer of 2010, when my mom and I decided- almost on a whim- to make a stop in Philadelphia while on our way to Brown University in Providence.  We were on our way to drop me off for my summer program that was sponsored by the Joyce Ivy Foundation, and we planned a few extra days to explore the East Coast a bit.  One of my idols in the medical field, Dr. Scott Mackler, had attended Penn, and I figured that it must be a pretty great place if he had chosen to go there.  The instant I set foot on campus, I turned to my mom and said, “This is it”.  It’s difficult to say what made me so sure that Penn was the college for me; it was almost as if there was some kind of magnetic force that drew me to it. 

From that moment, I vigorously dove into researching colleges.  I scoured the webpages of other institutions that interested me, comparing their key aspects.  My mom and I toured various campuses.  I established criteria that I considered non-negotiable.  For instance, I knew that I wanted to move outside Michigan and live in a large city.  I also knew that I wanted to be somewhere on the East Coast.  Although I kept an open mind, no other institution excited me as much as Penn did.  For that reason, I decided to apply Early Decision, which is something that I’ll discuss in a later post. 

I don’t believe that there is a formula for determining happiness with one’s college choice, nor do I believe that there is only one “right” college for every person.  Choosing a college is difficult, but it should also be exciting.  It’s important to not get bogged down by all of the options and enjoy the decision making process.  Easier said than done, right?

The following are some of my tips for making a college choice:

• This is YOUR decision.  Listen to what others have to say, but ultimately do what feels right to you.  This college will be a part of your life forever; follow your own heart when making your selection. 

•       When you’re being showered with fliers from various colleges, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.  Read through the fliers, but don’t feel like you have to attend the college that bombards you the most.    

•       When you’re being showered with fliers from various colleges, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.  Read through the fliers, but don’t feel like you have to attend the college that bombards you the most.

•      Establish criteria that the school absolutely must have, such as size or location.  This will help you narrow your search.

•     Visit the campus if at all possible, especially if you think it is one of your top choices.  This can make all the difference in the world and will also improve how you are able to talk about the college in your application essay. 

•      Do research online.  It might be helpful to make yourself a chart comparing certain aspects of each college (size, cost, percent receiving financial aid, location, etc.)

•      Don’t let cost be a deterrent.  The price tag of most Ivy League institutions is roughly $60,000 per year.  Although this seems like an astronomical amount, almost everyone receives at least some form of financial aid.  My Penn education is extremely affordable, probably much more so than it would be if I would have decided to stay in state.  Private institutions are typically able to offer more financial aid, so a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what you’ll be expected to pay.

•       Don’t count yourself out of the Ivy League, but don’t limit yourself to only those eight schools either.  Explore your options.