The Right Choice: Staffer head-to-head about college decisions

I’ve never been a decisive person.

What color shirt do I want? I like them all. What time do I want to meet? Up to you. What do you want for dinner? I’m down for anything.

So, when it came time to apply to colleges, I was no different. I applied to a combined total of 10 colleges both in-state and out-of-state. I couldn’t ignore the “just in case” voice in the back of my head that forced me to spam the “Add a college” button on the Common App.

Even though most of my friends only applied to one or two colleges, expanding my options outside of just one “dream school” provided me with locations and programs I wouldn’t have explored without keeping an open mind.

I plan on majoring in English, which didn’t narrow down my college choice at all, given almost every college in the U.S. has an English program. So, I pressed submit for all of the applications I crafted — why not? The Common App already has all the colleges listed for easy access.

Now, I don’t feel stressed about my decision because I don’t have just “one shot” to get into college. If one door closes, another is bound to open. 

If I didn’t keep an open mind, I wouldn’t have even applied to my current top choice. After my acceptance, I took the time to further research the school ambiance and the English program. I found out this college has the perfect work-life balance for me and a stunning campus.

You don’t realize how many opportunities you miss when you limit yourself. Even if the acceptance rate is lower, just apply. You have nothing to lose — except maybe the 50 bucks it took to apply.

It’s true that it costs money to apply to more colleges, but I think of my education as an investment of my money and time. Seeing education as one of my top priorities, I didn’t hesitate to spend a few more dollars applying to schools.

No matter what process you choose, college applications are going to be stressful. It’s just a fact. But don’t make it harder for yourself by limiting your options. A college you never considered might just become your home for the next four years.

I’ve known where I’m going to college since my mom put me in a tiger onesie as a toddler. The closet full of black and gold swag, weekend tailgates and my entire family — including second cousins I haven’t talked to in years — congratulating me when I got accepted to the University of Missouri made me realize just that. 

While some of my friends filled out dozens of applications and wrote a different essay for almost every single college, I had already received my acceptance letter. I was able to sit back and breathe while they lost sleep over pro/con lists.

Knowing where you want to go to school isn’t unusual. Most of the people I know applied to college with a single school in mind before they even finished all of the applications. I only filled out one application, not having to deal with schools requiring additional essays, questions and application requirements. I also didn’t have to worry about retaking my ACT, signing up for the SAT that other schools require or pay numerous application fees that add up over time.

After talking with several current and former students at Mizzou, while admittedly biased towards their alma mater, the experience and advice they shared only cemented my final decision.

When visiting other schools, I tried to see myself in an entirely new place next year, and I just couldn’t do it. The schools were all great and provided similar interesting programs, but without the support system and resources available at Mizzou, my college years would be entirely different from what I imagined for so many years.

I might miss out on some opportunities for classes and programs available at other schools, but the benefits of getting scholarships specifically for the children of alumni and being close to home outweigh getting into a potentially better school. When you’ve had literally years to tour the campus, research scholarships and meet with alumni in your major, the upsides are undeniable.

Now, with my college worries ending months ago, I can make the most of my senior year and get a head start on planning for the next four years.