Author Topic: getting ready for college-now? (Read 1402 times)

Ko-Ko · « **on:** February 13, 2007, 04:21:14 PM »

About a week ago, I was at home minding my own business, when my mom burst into the house with piles of mail. Apparently, my PSAT score was sent to several colleges, and they sent me letters, wanting me to order some more information about them. My parents and I spent hours sorting the mail, throwing out the ones from schools that were too far away, too big, in the middle of no where, the one that thought I wanted a business major, and the women's colleges, and there's still a pile of about 25 letters! Now I've got several large books on colleges to read, my aunt, uncle, and grandma want me to go to school in New England, I want to stay closer to home, but I'd have to get in to a good school close to home (my parent's university is very close by, but they've told me not to go there, since it's huge). I have to take SAT, SAT II, AP history test, and HSPAs. But overall, it's extremely exciting. I think I'll be much happier at college, if I don't let the stress get to me first!

Ko-Ko

Lisbeth · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2007, 04:25:00 PM »

Best of luck! I hope you get into the college of your choice.

Ko-Ko · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2007, 04:44:56 PM »

BUt the thing is, I don't even have a college picked. I hear people saying how they've picked the college they want to get in to, picked their major and minor, and decided exactly what field they are going into. THen, they ask me what I'm going to do, and all I can say is "psychology." They ask me what college, I say I don't know, they ask me what kind of psychology, I say I don't know. But I think I'll be alright. ANd if I can get threw all of this without having the men in the white coats take me away, I think I'll be set for just about anything. If only I didn't have to take calculus. $:-\$ If only I knew what calculus was. $:-\$

Ko-Ko

megswsu · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:05:37 PM »

First of all, don't worry about not having a #1 college right now, and don't worry about not knowing what you want to major in. That's what college is for...to figure it out if you don't already know. That being said, I don't know what year you are in school, but I would start preparing sometime your junior year, like taking the SAT's, etc. That way you have a jump start and if you need to retake them (as I did) you'll have plenty of time. And in the meantime don't think of any specific school you want to go to. Think more along the lines of what type of school you want to go to. Small/big? Rural/near a big city? State/private? Those sorts of things. Then from there start taking a look at the schools. And remember, you don't have to go to a Big Fancy School to get a good education (not that there's anything wrong with that). As I like to point out, Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) went to WSU (where I went for 2 years) in Pullman, WA in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE; and look what he's accomplished. And like Aquigoth said, you can always transfer if you need to. Good luck and get excited!!

Ko-Ko · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:36:47 PM »

I'm a junior now, so I'll be taking the SATs in March. The HSPAs are scheduled for March as well, and the AP tests are in April, so by the end of Junior year, all I'll have left are SAT II and the AP spanish test. So It's not so bad, and I'm already better off than some people.

Ko-Ko

FolkRockFan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2007, 06:07:55 PM »

I wouldn't worry too much about not knowing your major and minor just yet. At many schools, you don't get to declare them until your sophomore year anyway, so you have plenty of time to figure things out even after you actually start college.

NYGirl100 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2007, 07:05:35 PM »

Congratulations! I liked college much more than high school. I also changed my major about 10 times. It sounds that you are on the right track.

Just one piece of advice, if I may: if you have the time and the money, I highly recommend visiting the colleges once you've narrowed them down to a reasonable number, and try to visit them when the students are there (your spring break is usually a good time). When I visited the college that I thought was my first choice, I didn't get a good vibe from the environment and the students, so I ended up going to a different college, where I had a great time. My friend who went to my original first choice ended up transferring to my college because she didn't like it.

Barghest1031 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2007, 11:48:40 PM »

Whatever you do, don't stress out too much.

And threaten your guidance office if they're too slow on sending out what they need to (mine refused to send out vital info for a major scholarship until my mom called them and chewed them out. . .I think I was the only person who actually got that information on time).

Also, no fears about having a major and minor picked out. I switched mine twice before I got in, and now that I'm in I've realized I can't stand my major so I'm changing it at the end of this year. I also have absolutely no minor, but that's kind of nice because it's less required classes and more classes that I just want to take for the heck of it.

(And what are the HSPAs and SAT II? All I had to take for mine was either the ACT or SAT. . . .. I took the easy route with the ACT. Bad lazy me.

)

Alida · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2007, 11:52:58 PM »

Congrats and good luck

What an exciting time!

T'Mar of Vulcan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2007, 12:01:36 AM »

Quote from: faussonl on February 13, 2007, 04:54:18 PM

Have fun looking at colleges! I had a great time visiting various schools the summer before my senior year.

Yikes. I applied to one university. One. (And got in, of course.) But here we don't have lots of universities like over there. To do the degree I wanted, you had no choice but to apply to Wits (University of the Witwatersrand). I loved it. I often drive past there and sigh dramatically thinking how nice it was.

mrsbrandt · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:08:22 PM »

I think you'll be fine and trust me I'm excited for you!!! I used to tutor for the SATs, and actually worked in a college admissions office for a little while. Just remember there is no one school out there that is going to be perfect for you, the experience is totally what you make of it and in most situations you can be happy anywhere. I really hope things go well. I was accepted to way too many schools (I applied to like 20 and got into like 16 - including some ivys) and wound up going to a school for a scholarship program. I didn't think I would happy there, but I really needed the money - the best thing I did for myself was decide that I was going to have fun at school. The time I spent at that school was amazing and the experiences are something I will always cherish forever and I met DH at that school too! Things will work out so have faith, good luck and CONGRATS (those must have been some impressive PSAT scores)!!!

VorFemme · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:27:19 PM »

Congratulations!

I changed majors three times from entering to graduating with my undergraduate degree. My sister started on one school, transferred to another to get the degree program that she wanted, then transferred back due to personal considerations (not quite the ideal degree field - but a less specific degree CAN give you a bit more flexibility when being considered for jobs down the road).

Enjoy the process and don't sweat it!

Evil Duckie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:42:10 PM »

Good luck and have fun looking. This is the time that the colleges and universities are courting you to go there. Do plenty of college visits so you can figure out what you like for a campus. The colleges and universities offer lots chances to visit so take advantage of them.

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