The search for the perfect college can be extremely stressful. During your search, questions like how far away do you want to be from home, how big of a school do you want to go to, and what do you want to major in all become so real in what seems like the blink of an eye.
Growing up less than five miles from the University of Delaware, I was dying to get away. I wanted to go far away but still close enough where I could come home for holidays. I wanted the big school atmosphere where I would be able to get a good education but still be able to have a lot of fun. And of course, I wanted to go somewhere with a good physical therapy program.
I found what I thought was my perfect dream school. East Carolina University was everything I thought I wanted. Amazing school spirit, football tailgates, a good PT program, and of course a school in the south was right there for me. My parents and I visited and they also loved ECU. I was so excited when I was accepted. I couldn’t wait to become a part of “Pirate Nation” and live in the south.
I got down to East Carolina and I learned within the first three days that it wasn’t my dream school after all. Constant partying, at least 15 minute walks to classes, and classes with over 100 kids in them were really not what I wanted. I also questioned what I wanted to be and whether PT was really what I wanted to do.
So one week later I found myself moving into my new dorm at Alvernia University in Reading, PA. It’s the total opposite of ECU and what I thought my dream school was. It’s a small private Franciscan University with no football team and very minimal partying. However, i’ve fallen in love with AU.
Small class sizes, friendly people, and a short walk everywhere is really exactly what I wanted. Being able to walk from my dorm to the gym in less than two minutes is amazing and then be able to grab dinner just across campus is very convenient. The staff here is amazing and has helped me decide what I want to do with my life and helped me switch my major from Physical Therapy to double majoring in Healthcare Science and Nursing. I have met amazing people here at Alvernia and honestly can’t wait to move into my dorm this fall with some of my best friends.
So what you think is your dream school and what actually is your dream school are two completely different things. Of course I still wish I went to a school with football tailgates but now I go to a school with cool activities on the quad all of the time. So truly ask yourself what you really want and need in your college. Don’t just look at the atmosphere but look at qualities colleges have that are going to help make you successful in your future. Take advantage of your choices and make a choice that you know will make you happy but also keeps you on track for being successful.
