Since I am the only representative of the public university educational system at CampusNut, my college application ordeal will more than likely be the most interesting and useful to the majority of Gen Y-ers out in cyberspace. I am also, by far, the coolest cat in this office. I am sure that many of you, no matter how great you did on your SATs, are feeling a little insecure about the college application process. In order to ease your discomfort, I will take you on my college admissions roller coaster.
I began my search for the perfect college/university community the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I was actually pretty much forced to start looking at college profiles by my parents. I knew I was going to go to a four year institution, but I wasn’t really thinking about the importance of it all. When I was 14, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. But, my dad and my grandparents decided that we needed a lawyer in the family. I was branded.
I come from a well-educated family. Diplomas from top-notch schools hang on the walls of our offices and homes: Brown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, and so forth. The pressure was on for me to continue the tradition. But, being the strong-headed and unconventional girl I am, I don’t fall into the pressures of others easily. Besides, that was what my older sister was for. I was going to go wherever I wanted. I collected information brochures on a slew of schools. The one thing I did know was that I was looking for a school with a big name… Did I want to spend the next four years at a co-ed or same sex institution? Would I be happy at a school where the student enrollment is that of 500 students or that of 50,000? Massachusetts or California? And more importantly, what schools can I realistically get into?
I was an above average student in high school. I went to a small parochial high school in Southwest Florida where I was enrolled in Honors and AP courses. I wasn’t the valedictorian nor was I even in the top 10 of my graduating class, but I performed exceptionally well on my standardized tests and achieved success in my numerous extracurricular activities. I did well enough to be recognized and was offered scholarships to several 4-year institutions through my various achievements. But where to go was the big question? What did I want to do? Where did I want to be in 10 years? What school will help me get there? I still had no answers.
