To anyone who's worried about finding the college that is right for them,

The thought of college as a high school junior or senior can bring on so many different emotions. From excitement to anxiety, to fear, to curiosity and so much more. But the thought of actually deciding to attend just one of the thousands of schools that offer you the chance to receive a higher education is a daunting task. Private or public? Big or small? 2 years or 4? Only some of the questions that come to mind when you find yourself trying to narrow down which school you some day hope to call your alma mater. And yes as much as these questions are logistically important, some more important factors may be more personal. One of the most important that some may say is your field of study. Find a school where there are passionate professors and students who want to teach and learn new things about your selected field. Join a community where people share your same passion or drive for the same cause. And even if you find yourself on the undecided, and on the fence between education and political science, that's okay too. You'll find a school that offers what you need when you're ready to decide what route to take. Find a school where you can walk around their campus and feel safe and comfortable being who you are. Find a school where you have the opportunity to unwind doing the things you love or where they offer the things you've always wanted to try. Find a school they foster a community of home away from home. Regardless of if you're a commuter or on-campus student, at a community college or a 4-year school, your college campus will become the place you find yourself spending hours upon hours on. Find a school that gives you that feeling deep in your stomach, that you can't seem to explain, that you've found a good place, a place you want to spend your future at.

Don't worry about the "brand name". The name that your college has plastered all over your campus, has close to no meaning. How could this possibly be?! Because regardless of the name of the school you choose everything that happens in your future is dependent on your own work, drive, and passion. So don't go that top private university that your rich distant cousin went to just to say that followed in their footsteps. But rather attend the university that will foster a strong work ethic, where you can find people who love what you love, and where you can confidently say I've found my second home.

I've found mine, and I hope you find yours!

Sincerely,

Only one year left!