Advice for Seniors
If you are a senior admitted to multiple colleges and trying to make a decision, keep reading!
I understand that this decision may feel overwhelming. Nothing I can say is going to provide you with total clarity. You have worked hard and earned the right to make this decision. Celebrate yourself and all of your accomplishments!
I know you are busy. You have a lot going on both in and out of the classroom. So, I did the heavy lifting by putting together advice, tips, and other resources on how you can make this decision with confidence. Here we go.
The Associate Director of Georgia Tech, Andrew Cohen wrote a real gem on ways to make a final decision without physically visiting or re-visiting a college. While this came out at the very beginning of the Covid pandemic, his advice is just as relevant now since most students don’t have the time or resources to revisit all of their college options.
Admitted Student Webinars and Virtual Events: Visit websites and plan for a virtual tour or information session. You can also set up conversations with current students and alumni to pick their brains.
Virtual Campus Tours: If you cannot make it in person, get online!
Social Media: As many of you know, I always say not to believe everything on social media. That said, you should still follow the institution and admission office’s social media handles. Make sure you also take a look at the various departmental and student organization accounts. These accounts are created for current students, so you will get some different information that you might not see on the institution or admission accounts.
Talk to Students and Admissions Staff: Most institutions have a way for you to connect with current students.
In my many years of college counseling, I stand by focusing on the following:
1. Academic Interests and Options: As an admitted student, your goal is to understand details about the academic area you are considering and how you can tailor your studies toward your interests. “How can I be a history major but also be a pre-med student?” Remember, your goal is to glean insight and details to gain an understanding of what your experience will really look like on these campuses.
2. Community: As an admitted student, your goal is to understand some of the residential opportunities available. Some dorms offer themes or group students together with similar interests. Ask questions!
3. Culture: Get an inside look at what it is really like to be part of campus. Keep in mind you are visiting campus one day out of the year, so your experience is not going to be a fully accurate representation of the campus culture.
4. Stories not statistics: Use your time on campus and exploring social media to ask for stories and anecdotes about graduates or graduating seniors.
Ultimately, you need to trust your gut. You can read websites, watch webinars, and scroll social media, but at the end of day you will have a feeling and need to trust yourself. You know yourself best! You will have that “aha moment,” just like I did!
Options and choices can feel overwhelming, but don’t forget that THIS WAS THE GOAL! This decision is a privilege. THIS is why you visited schools, researched colleges, and applied to more than just one place. THIS is why you took tough classes, studied, worked hard, and sat through multi-hour standardized tests—to have choices. You are EXACTLY where you wanted to be!
Good luck. You got this!
