Decision Day is Coming - Are You Ready?
May 1. Decision Day.
You have spent the better part of the last year pouring your heart and soul into your college applications. You have focused on getting good grades, challenged yourself with rigorous coursework, did your very best on standardized tests, put together compelling resumes, crafted authentic essays, and did your very best to show admission officers why they should admit you to their institution.
Some did admit you, and now you are in a great position - YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!
But not so fast.
I know that for many of you, making this decision can be paralyzing. You have no idea HOW to decide which school is best and you are afraid to make the wrong decision. After all, this is the single most significant decision of your life so far.
I get it.
Here’s the thing - you have all the tools you need to make the decision. Sure you may need to get a little more information or make a final visit, but the key is to keep a level head and continue to work through the process.
Compile all the acceptance you have received making sure you have all financial aid packages. It is a good idea to put all of this information into a spreadsheet so you can easily compare the net cost of each school. Be careful to keep track of what money is gift aid or scholarships and does not need to be paid back versus loans and will need to be paid back.
Look at how each school aligns with your priorities. If you made a college wish list when you began the college search process go back and review that and see how each school on your list stacks up. It is unlikely that you will get everything you want in one school, so you will probably need to compromise and decide which items on your wish list are more important to you. Each school has its pros and cons, and it soon becomes clear that, while the options may be exciting, as in life, nothing is perfect.
At this point, you should be able to do an initial rank of your schools. If one of the schools stands out far above the rest due to cost and alignment with your priorities, you may have your answer. However, if your schools are still tightly packed, you need to do more work.
Seek input from your family. Show them your rankings and explain your rationale and ask them if they have any additional insight that they can provide. Sometimes an outside perspective can shed light on an option in a way that you hadn’t thought of previously. Parents - Get ready to listen, talk, then listen again. Parents are at their best as sounding boards in this process.
If you are still left with doubt, you need to make a final visit. A final visit should be very deliberate. Consider the things that are leaving you uncertain and make sure you see them when you are on campus. Make appointments with your intended department of study and if possible sit in on a class. Take detailed notes throughout your visit and keep an open mind. You should do this for each school that is a serious consideration for attendance.
At this point, you have done all you can do, and now it’s time to make your choice. Review all of your notes and trust yourself to make a decision. You can do it!
May 1 is National Decision Day - the deadline for seniors to pick their college. Make sure you officially notify the college that you have chosen by this date.
