(no subject)
I visited American University today. I was very disappointed with the open house. The campus is blah and nothing makes the university stand out besides its reputation (which it didn't uphold during the visit) and the fact that it is in DC. I feel like if I were to decide to go there today I'd be deciding on the sole fact that it has great internship opportunities and thats it. Maybe my expectations were too high. Despite my disappointment I'm still going to do an overnight visit and give them the opportunity to redeem themselves in my eyes.
Upon this visit I realized that I don't have a reach school. In a way I think I was protecting myself by not having a reach school. Like it's my way of blocking out the rejection and the biggest disappointment of not getting into a "dream" college. However I realized that I need that reach school in some way to justify in the end that I explored ALL of my options and I'm not settling. Therefore, I have picked a reach school. In total I have 8 colleges on my list. However, since the spring it has been my goal to find the right fit early on so I could apply early decision. For the longest time I thought it would take more of the pressure off: higher precentage of applicants get accepted through ED and I could worry less about college and more about having fun my senior year. But I've only come to realize that I'm putting more pressure onto myself by forcing myself to decide by an early deadline. I pretty much know what I want to study, International Studies, but am I willing to give up a great college life for great internships or do I give up great internships for a great college life? But the real answer is I have to keep questioning and looking at the colleges that are on my list that give me the greatest and most alluring compromise.
Yay! for the most stressful important decision of my life.
Upon this visit I realized that I don't have a reach school. In a way I think I was protecting myself by not having a reach school. Like it's my way of blocking out the rejection and the biggest disappointment of not getting into a "dream" college. However I realized that I need that reach school in some way to justify in the end that I explored ALL of my options and I'm not settling. Therefore, I have picked a reach school. In total I have 8 colleges on my list. However, since the spring it has been my goal to find the right fit early on so I could apply early decision. For the longest time I thought it would take more of the pressure off: higher precentage of applicants get accepted through ED and I could worry less about college and more about having fun my senior year. But I've only come to realize that I'm putting more pressure onto myself by forcing myself to decide by an early deadline. I pretty much know what I want to study, International Studies, but am I willing to give up a great college life for great internships or do I give up great internships for a great college life? But the real answer is I have to keep questioning and looking at the colleges that are on my list that give me the greatest and most alluring compromise.
Yay! for the most stressful important decision of my life.