School Supplies: Check.

Prepared: Check

Choose the dream school: Un-check.

I placed an un-check mark there because I didn't choose my dream school. Yep, I turned them down because I didn't not want to go there, no, I turned them down because that acceptance letter to my dream brought out better opportunities at other schools that could've been a better choice than my dream school. I chose not to go there because it was in the city, and the city is filled with many opportunities, but the school's in the suburbs provide a more subtle experience for my liking at least.

When you the senior reading this go off and start to fill out applications for college in the coming fall or the next, think wisely about your choices. Because once you choose, you must choose for yourself, not for anyone else or even the best school in the country that just has the best criteria for its majors and students. When making that choice, make sure if it really is the right choice for you. Do you really want to go to your dream school, or would you rather go to a different school that offers that exact same major you want to do, but offers more opportunities for you, and opens more doors for you? Not many people think about this when deciding to apply to a school they really want to go to.

Of course I didn't choose my dream school because I knew I could get better opportunities through a different school rather than that expensive $57,130 a year tuition that could look mighty pretty if it were a salary based job coming out a school that was only 31,000 and under. You shouldn't have to go to a school that is that expensive. I didn't, and I'm glad I made that choice. You shouldn't have to listen to me, but it is the right move to make rather than taking out 50,000 dollars in student loans and be in debt for the rest of your life.

If you think about it logically and critically, it doesn't matter what school you go to. After 4 years and you graduate at the top of your class, no employer is going to care about what school you went to. All they are going to care about is what degree you have, and how well you do your job. It shouldn't matter what school you go to, what should matter is what you do with that experience while you are there. Sure, the best school in America is great, but that state school or state university could also be a more practical, better choice for you.