Choosing+a+School

Choosing a School I’ve learned from experience that people will start to look at you weird if by April, you are still answering all their questions about where you’re going to college with “I don’t know” or ”I’m still deciding”. What I’ve learned is that you shouldn’t procrastinate with this decision and think you’ll come by it eventually. Choosing a school is like studying for an exceptionally hard test. You have to dedicate time to it well in advance, because before you know it, it’ll be May 1st (Universal Decision Day) and you’ll have to send in your initial payments and commit. Start researching your schools, your interests and narrowing down your options so that when spring rolls around your senior year, you will be prepared.

TO PARTY HARDY OR BE MORE SMARTY

When choosing a school, you must realize that every school is a “party school”. Depending on the crowd you chose to hang out with, you could be up to your neck in books, nooks or crooks at any university. Drugs, alcohol and parties are available at any university. It all depends on who you surround yourself with.

BA vs BS

When it comes to potential degrees that can be earned in college, there are many different types. Two of the most common ones are bachelor of arts and bachelor of science. Generally speaking, a bachelor of arts degree requires less classes/credit to graduate and is more diverse in it’s required subjects. Princeton, an ivy league school, only offers bachelor of arts degrees as they are supposed to create a more well-rounded individual. People who are double-majoring (in business, teaching, etc. and another academic subject) will generally take a bachelor of arts in the academic subject part of their double-major. A bachelor of science on the other hand usually requires more classes/credit to graduate with more emphasis being placed on the subject you are majoring in. Students hoping to go on to graduate or professional schools usually graduate with these. The specifics of each degree though depend on the college, in some schools there is barely a difference and in some schools it makes all the difference. Cornell for instance: for those majoring in biology and who wish to get a bachelor of arts, they must apply to their Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences. But for those who want a bachelor of science degree, they must apply to Cornell’s Agricultural and Life Science School.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

One thing I can not stress enough is the importance of visiting your top-choice schools. I have heard plenty of horror stories of people who thought they loved a school, who worked hard and built up their application, who got in and celebrated and then who visited the campus FOR THE FIRST TIME just to realize they didn’t like it at all. Applying to a school is a huge waste of time if you have not yet visited it. Upon arrival you might realize you don’t like the campus, the weather, the people or the vibe that that school embodies and by then, there’s nothing you can do but cross it off your list, and hope the rest of your schools are better. So long schpheel short, visit your schools.

WORK HARD AND FINISH STRONG WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU

When applying for jobs later on down the road, it’s more important where and how you finished your college career than where you started it. Plenty of people who are not sure what they want to do and who do not have money to burn, start out at community college. Then after a year or two of studying, they transfer to better stronger schools with a solid direction and career in mind and end up with high-paying jobs they love and much less student-loans. George Lucas, Jim Wright, Abraham Lincoln among others all succeeded with an “unconventional” college education. My one neighbor graduated as the valedictorian from Bergen Community College, and then got offered a full ride for her final two college years to Yale University. So yeah, dream big no matter where you are. :)

GRADUATE SCHOOL?

This “unconventional” style of education can also apply to getting into graduate schools. For instance, the vet at the animal hospital I work at, attended and graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. However, her undergraduate career ended up with her graduating from SUNY Buffalo with a B.S. in business, not in any science-related subject. How did she do this? During her years at SUNY Buffalo, she took all the required science and math courses that Veterinary School needed along with her business classes. Even though it took her a semester or two longer to graduate, when it came time for her to apply to vet schools, she had the advantage for she stood out as (probably) one of the few business majors with all the prerequisites who could bring something different to the table.

//Don't let that "Ahh Senior Year!!" be a scream of fury. Let it be an sigh of relief and contentment as you stretch out comfortably, relaxing poolside. : ) //