Making That Final College Decision

Maybe you are a senior right now who has found yourself in the very fortunate/unfortunate position of having TOO many college acceptances and you don’t know where to go! Maybe you’ve been able to narrow it down to a couple top options, but otherwise, the whole idea of trying to make that decision is putting you in a cold sweat. First of all, I’d recommend you take a step back from it all and feel very proud of yourself! You worked hard in high school, and demonstrated what a cool and interesting person you are, AND you completed all of those applications and essays, and all of these colleges wanted YOU! Take a deep breath, and take a moment to allow your confidence to be boosted, that is quite an accomplishment! Now here is my advice for approaching this decision, which is possibly the biggest one you have ever made!

• Try and step back and think about what your priorities had been when you started this process. What had you been looking for? What size school? What kind of location? What kind of academic/social culture? In what ways do the schools before you meet those criteria or not? A good old Pros/Cons list may be of great help here!  

• Look back at any notes you took when you researched or visited the school. What things stood out to you? Are there other resources you can tap to do some further/deeper research? If you know current students at any of these schools, reach out to them! Current students (or recent grads) are going to be your most valuable resources. 

• Compare the financial aid packages you were offered (including tuition, room/board, travel/supplies costs, etc.) If all things are equal and one or two schools would be considerably more affordable for you and your family, that might be an easy way to narrow down your options!

• And, most importantly, visit! If you haven’t seen the school, go visit NOW! I would never advise a student to attend a school they’ve never set foot on. If you visited more than 6 months ago, and it is feasible, you might consider RE-visiting as your mindset will be different as an admitted student rather than a prospective student. Walk onto these campuses and see if you can really picture yourself there. So much about this process can be about “vibes” and gut feelings, listen to them!   

Finally, try and understand that there is no WRONG decision here! If you had a well-researched list of schools (many of which you may have visited), all of the options before you are likely GOOD ones! This decision might feel final, but take comfort in the fact that, if for some reason you end up unhappy where you land, you can always transfer. It won’t be the end of the world!