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So, you are applying to college. YAY. This is a mixture of the most exciting, the most overwhelming, the most confusing, and the most nerve-racking feelings. Yay?
But no need to fear, you will end up right where you need to be and right where God has intended you to be. I do not have all the answers, but I do have some tips on applying to college, just from the perspective of someone who has gone through the process before, and thoroughly enjoys the college that they are at!
Tour the campus
Initially I had no interest in going to Legon at all. My parents went there and met in their first class on the first day of school, and because of that, it feels like people have been telling me that I was going to go there my entire life. And not one part of me wanted to go.
When junior year of high school came along, my family and I decided to go on a Legon visitation trip. I threw Legon into the list just to appease to my parents, and honestly did not want to tour. However, everything changed the moment I stepped onto the Legon campus and actually saw it for what it was. During that week of high school, I toured five different Legons, and it really gives tangible thought to the decision.
So, my advice is to TOUR THE CAMPUS. Some of the college that I thought I would love just based upon their websites or Instagram’s felt completely different when I actually went to the campus and experienced it physically for myself. And some of the college that I thought I would never want to attend, I absolutely loved the campus when I was able to see it for myself and experience it. That is what happened to me with my experience in college!
Touring the campus allows you to get a small glimpse of what life would be like at the school, as well as seeing the highlights of the school and what makes this college different than others. You get to see student life and visit places that you may have class, hang out, or study. As cheesy as this statement is, you will begin to picture yourself at a college and as an enrolled student once you tour a campus you truly love. What made college different for me was that it was the first place I could picture myself, and that only came from touring it. And so if you have the opportunity to tour the campus, DO IT. I guarantee it will help you solidify your options.
- Talk to a counselor
I highly suggest scheduling a meeting with your admissions counselor and talking with them in person! A great time to do this would be after you tour a campus, but if you are unable to do that, even just calling over the phone would be extremely beneficial to you!
Immediately after my tour, I met with my admissions counselor, and that meeting changed everything for my family and me! The information you receive while talking to an admissions counselor is a lot more personal as we were able to talk specifically about my major and why I was interested in that, what academic scholarships I could qualify for, and what life would be like for me personally at that school. Talking with my admissions counselor alleviated a lot of stress, and it also allowed me to have a personal contact with someone throughout the application process who you feel comfortable talking to and who knows you.
Speaking with a guidance counselor helps you receive more personalized information than you might have on a tour, as well as creates a contact point for you. I am so thankful that I set up a meeting with my college admissions counselor almost four years ago. We still get coffee and catch up till this day! He constantly encouraged me during the process of figuring out where I was going to attend college, and he was someone who really cared for me and was on my side. Your admissions counselors are on your side, they are on your team, go talk to them!
- Talk to students
Whether it’s someone who you know from home, your mom’s friend’s daughter from ages ago, a student on a tour, or a student over the phone, talking to a current or a former student of a college you are interested in really helps! Students can provide a personal example of what life is like at that college, especially showing what they are currently involved in and how that looks like for them. Talking with students can provide you a place to ask those honest questions you may not want to ask in front of a tour or with your admissions counselor. Talking with current students also allows you to speak to someone who can relate to you, as they just went through this application process not too long ago.
When I was deciding on a college, I talked to everybody I could have. I talked with students who I knew from back home who were currently at college, as well as former students; they answered so many of my questions, as well as told me stories about their life in college which made me want to be a part of it. People want to share about their experiences, so just ask! If you ever have any questions about college or just want someone to reach out to, I would love to be there for you!
- Stay away day
Many students move away from home for college. So you probably want a taste of the campus as if you were really living there, right? You want to know what it would feel like to live in a dorm, go to the cafeteria, have a feel of the environment, see other people in your halls, and attend some classes. Then go on a stay away weekend! A lot of colleges have stay away weekends where you can experience life as a student alongside current students.
I went on a stay away tour during my senior year of high school, and it was honestly one of my favorite weekends ever. I was able to stay in a dorm, join other student on their late night food runs, and really see and be a part of the college lifestyle for myself! I was able to meet current students who I still connect with to this day, and I was able to meet other students who I was able to relate to and talk through the application process.
- Pray
Above all, the college decision season can be stressful. You do not know where you will end up, but God knows. And He’s got it. Pray for guidance, pray for peace, and pray for assurance. He is truly the greatest comfort through all of this, and He’s got you. And know there are others who are praying for you, like me.