What to do AFTER Getting into College!
First Choice or Last?
When you get into a dream school, it can feel like, well, a dream. And deflated hopes when it comes to where you’re headed can also cloud your head as you make important decisions regarding your schooling, housing, and financial plans. No matter where on the spectrum you end up, it's normal to feel overwhelmed before starting a new school. Take each new experience as it comes, and don’t try to rush through the valuable time to get to know your new surroundings before classes start. You never know what you’ll find!
Pave YOUR Way
One of the biggest differences between high school and college is the flexibility you have in your schedule and journey to graduation. College advisers can do their best to guide you, but overall you get to decide what your path looks like. Maybe you want to finish as quickly as possible or maybe you want to study a minor. Be intentional about how you spend your precious learning opportunities, so that you feel prepared and confident to enter your field post Graduation Day. Your voice can get drowned out in both big and small programs.
It Ain’t All it's Cracked Up to Be
Some people, maybe some you know, go to college and meet their lifelong best friends or the love of their lives. Others don't. So there’s no pressure to “live up to the hype”. College is, plainly, a place where you meet a ton of new people. Some you’ll like, some you won’t; some relationships you’ll maintain and others you’ll let fade away. But they all come together to form your unique college experience and will undoubtedly shape your life whether they are in it forever or not.
Don’t Let Bullies Shrink You
Countless people from different backgrounds coming together in one space is a beautiful thing, but it isn’t always without its challenges. Unfortunately, no matter who you are, there are typically those who disagree, or compare, or judge. It’s easy to feel like shrinking yourself so you don’t draw attention/criticism from difficult peers is the best line of defense, but part of the college experience is allowing yourself to grow and change. How can you learn to take space if you never practice?
Do You Want to Dorm?
College dorms are an incredible place to meet new people and establish a community in a new place; especially if your campus is less enclosed. They can also be incredibly expensive and/or difficult to navigate with certain disabilities. The best way to decide whether dorming is right for you is to refer back to your goals for your education and see what aligns the most. College is a once in a lifetime experience either way!
