Here or there?

Picking the right college

November 8, 2011

Since I was 13 years old, I’ve always dreamt of going to college and living on my own. Now, as a high school senior, my dreams are becoming reality. As I search for the perfect school for me, I begin to formulate my requirements in order to match up with my dream school. Many factors must be taken into consideration before one can choose the college that is ideal. I’ve realized that as you grow up you begin to change your thoughts on life….

I’ve always wanted to go to a big division I college with thousands of sports-frenzied people, but now I wonder if maybe going to a smaller school may be a better option.

I had always pictured myself attending a school where the climate was always warm and the sun was always shining. But now I’ve grown to think that maybe colder weather would better suit me.

I used to envision myself attending a school close to my family so I would always have the opportunity to visit them, but now I’m starting to look at colleges that are further away from my hometown so I can start my own life and become my own person.

Living away from my family will give me the chance to experience a new lifestyle with new people. Going through the college application process has taught me that what I had thought I wanted in a college may not actually be what is right for me. In order to find the college that fits best one must first visit an array of schools and at each of these college visits, get a real feel for what the school is actually like. In doing so, one can really get the full experience of what that school is like and then determine which one best fits one’s needs.

Making a final decision does not always come easy and can very often be a challenging process that requires deliberation. However, I would definitely advise all students who are going through this process to really have an open mind and not rush to make their decision.

Where one attends college can affect one’s entire future, so it is really important that students take the time to really look at all their options.

As I am currently going through the college process I still find myself struggling to figure out which school is the perfect fit for me. All I know is that I will continue my search and consider all possible options before making my final decision.

Stephanie Ingber, 17, attends Watchung Regional High School and is a member of Nu’s teen board.