Dear Seniors,

When you pick a college, it might not be the place that you have envisioned yourself at since you were old enough to care about college. It might not be your "dream school" or your "first choice." It may even be the school that you originally thought of as your back-up school. But the most important thing to remember is that anyone that truly matters will be happy for you and will cheer you on regardless of where you decide to go next fall. Whatever school you decide is right for you will be the best school in the country.

Stop worrying about which school is "better" or more prestigious than your other options. Why does it matter if you go to the most rigorous school in the nation if you aren't happy once you get there? If you think that you will be happy at the school of your choosing, then it shouldn't matter if its a community college or Harvard. Both schools are going to give you an education, and it only matters that you chose it. There are so many things about a college that make them special that they don't evaluate and rank on NewsWeek's Top Schools.

Don't make a decision about where you want to go until you have heard back from all the schools that you applied to. You could be really excited about getting in to a school and decide that you've changed your mind once you hear from another one. Carefully weigh your options before you make a decision that will impact your life in a major way. College should be some of the best years of your life, and you could surprise yourself when picking where to spend them.

Pick a school that has a good program for what you want to do. Don't choose the "best" school you got in to if it doesn't have what you want to do. Most schools specialize in different things, and its silly to go somewhere if they don't have the major you want to pursue. While other aspects of a school are important, make sure that you will not only be happy with the academics, but that you will be able to succeed in them and achieve your goals.

Stand up for the decision that you make. Don't allow people to say that you made your choice because you didn't get in to the school you wanted to go to. Any senior knows that you can change your mind a million times by the time that May 1 deadline rolls around. Once you pick a school, you become more than just a future student. You become a fan of their sports teams and a representative for the school as a whole. Stand up and be proud of your future home, even before August comes. Own your decision and love your new school and others will envy you for making the right choice for you.

Most importantly, remember that everyone ends up where they are meant to be. You will have the time of your life anywhere that you go, and you control what type of college experience you will have. And, lastly, get excited, because you are in for the best four years of your life, and deciding on a school is just the beginning.

Sincerely,

We've All Been There