College Acceptance Day is approaching fast! May 1st is a little under 3 months away. While some high schoolers have known exactly what they want to do and where they want to go to college since the first day of freshman year, I'm sure there is a large majority of seniors who have no idea what the right choice for them is.
I also see this when I give tours at Penn State. Students don't know what questions to ask and often have no idea what they want to do.
Picking a college is really stressful even if you know what you want to do and where you want to go.
I asked other college students, ranging from freshman to seniors, what they wish they knew before they picked their college, and here is what they said:
"Actually go look at the campus and make sure it is the right fit. You'll know right away whether it's a good fit or not."
Going to see the campus is a definite because it's not always what it looks like online. Going to see the campus will let you see if you like the college and will give you a feel for whether its right for you or not. I think that you will get a feeling if the school is wrong for you, but I do not completely believe in the "this is the one" feeling, so don't worry if you don't feel that. Get to know the campus culture and make sure you are comfortable with it and will have fun going to school there.
"You can always transfer."
Sometimes you pick a college and after a few weeks or a semester, you realize the school isn't right for you, and that is completely okay. Picking a college isn't make it or break it because you can always transfer. Go to a school that works for you, and if you don't find your place, transferring is always an option.
"It's okay to go somewhere that scares you."
College is about what type of people go there, what you can learn from it, and what opportunities it will have available for you. If you live in Florida but want to go to school in Connecticut, do it. If you go to a small high school but want to go to a large university, do it. Don't be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone. That is what college is all about. And remember, you can always transfer if it's not the right fit for you.
"It will take time to make friends."
Finding a group of friends in college is sometimes one of the hardest parts. But just remember, everyone is in the same boat as you and is trying to make new friends. You probably won't automatically have a big group of friends just because you are living in a dorm. You need to be active on campus and join groups that interest you in order to find people with similar interests. Plus, having few friends isn't always a bad thing, sometimes less is more.
Just because all of your high school friends are going to a certain college, it doesn't mean that college is right for you. You can make new friends and still have your old ones too.
"It's okay to be selfish when picking a college."
Make sure to pick a school that has what you want and makes YOU happy. Your family members and friends are not going to school with you, so you don't need to please them with your decision. You need to find a school that has the academics, clubs, and environment that is going to make you happy and helps you succeed.
"The food is more important than you may think."
It might not sound important, but you can become pretty unhappy with a school if you are always unhappy with what you are eating. If you don't mind cooking, this can be solved by getting a dorm or apartment with a kitchen. But if you don't plan on cooking, take some time to see what food options are available and if you will be okay with eating that all the time.
"It's okay to not know what you want to major in before you start school."
If you have no idea what you want to major in, chose a school with a lot of options. If you can't decide between Broadcast Journalism and Marine Science, pick a school that gives you the option to try both. Focus your first two semesters on gen eds that cover a wide range of topics and see what interests you.
Yes, picking a college is hard. How are you supposed to know what you want to do for the next four years? Just remember, it is okay to be unsure and don't be afraid to ask for advice. If you have some friends currently in college, ask them "What do you wish you knew before you picked your college?"
