Should I make my college selection based on my friends?
Dear Babs,
I always thought that I wanted to go to Emory University in Atlanta so I applied early decision. However, now that a lot of my friends are getting in to schools near home in the Northeast, I’m not so sure about that choice. Do you think I should pull my application out? Is it stupid for me to make my college decision based on friends? Please help me!
Stuck in Atlanta
- - -
Dear Stuck,
This is why ‘Early Decision’ is not always the best decision. It means committing yourself to one school, regardless of financial aid, friends, or any subsequent changes of heart. Perhaps now is a good time to check out an online college matching tool (I like CampusCompare’s “MatchMe Meter”) to see what other schools out there you might like. If you really think you might have neglected other options, perhaps you should withdraw your application; you can always resubmit in the regular pool.
But that doesn’t mean that you should pick your school based on your friends either. Part of the fun of college is meeting totally new people in a new setting. By choosing a school far away from your home, you are showing that you are more ready for independence than your friends. Although it’s hard to leave people behind, you’ll think it is worth it when you meet tons of new friends and experience living on your own. So cast off that security blanket and go forth, young freshman!
Instead of worrying about missing your friends, focus on whether Emory is the right decision for you. If you love the campus, got a great vibe from the people, and the programs are fantastic and interesting, then stick with your initial instinct and commit to ‘Early Decision.’ If, on the other hand, you think there might be some better schools out there for you (and not just because your friends will be there) then remove your application from ED and submit it along with others this January.
Good Luck!
Babs
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 10:33 am and is filed under Dear Babs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
