Around this time 4 years ago, I was dead set on going to Kent State for journalism. I thought that journalism was my only path and that Kent State would've been the school to get me there.

I remember being 17 and going to visit there for the first time and thinking of how awesome it was. It was so open, so spacious and freeing. The dorm rooms that I saw were state of the art, with newly minted furniture and shiny appliances. Even the beds seemed pristine. I got caught up in the image that Kent State had put forth (as most colleges do when trying to reel in perspective students). I mean, they had a full size pool and a whole Lifestyle Fitness worth of gym equipment. It seemed perfect. I remember sitting in the lecture hall thinking, "This is so cool. They even have magazine journalism, which is exactly where I wanted to be."

On my second visit, the magic was kind of lost. I remember my mom telling me that I may not be in the exact room that they showed me, and while the indoor pool was nice, would I actually use it? I was also faced with the 10 minute bus ride just to get to the Journalism and Media building where the majority of my classes would be held. A bus, people.

I had visited Otterbein for the first time during my junior year of high school and didn't give it much consideration. I think because both of my parents went there, I thought that I'd be in their shadow and I didn't want that. I wasn't going to be an education major and I didn't think I'd join the band. I wanted my own life for college, you know? But I came back during my senior year and took a tour anyway. I liked it a lot when I actually got to sit in on some classes and talk with a current student (coincidentally also named Carrie). I remembered enjoying the discussion in the class on gender roles in modern society. I got to participate and actually felt like I could see myself sitting in a class a year from then doing exactly that.

As I walked around campus, I remember feeling a sense of comfort and security. My grandparents lived in Delaware, not too far from Otterbein's campus because my grandma would still attend theater shows at Cowan. My mom liked to tell me stories about her time in EKT and her math study parties. I liked those stories and I liked that Otterbein had that sort of "homey" feel.

I actually still have the pros and cons list that I made for Kent State vs. Otterbein. Kent State's side of the list had things like: Great dorms, lots of class choices for pros, but then commute to class, far away from home for cons. Otterbein had close to home, comfort/community feel, easy access to resources/teachers, and I believe only a single con (which I honestly cannot even remember).

Safe to say that come May 1 for college decisions, I traded in my grey Kent State tee for a red Otterbein one. And I could not be happier with my decision.