As the college application and decision season wraps up, most seniors have already decided which college they will attend. Maybe it’s the place with the lowest acceptance rate, with the biggest school spirit, or even with the best food! Wherever they choose, it’s the place they see themselves at best. However, many students are in a dilemma. What to do if you’re accepted into multiple colleges and can’t choose? One might have that high ranking and prestige, but the other might have a better campus and student life. Most adults will say that either decision will be the right one, but how do you choose the right decision?
Although it’s a blessing to be able to choose between two different colleges, loving two different schools does not make that decision easier. When one school is a clear winner, it’s simple. But when both feel at home in other ways, you start to overthink every little detail that doesn’t necessarily matter. Senior Claire Severson said, “When I was choosing between my top two schools and got stuck, I overthought everything. From the dining to the dorms, I couldn’t decide for the longest time” (Claire Severson 12).
The key is to just stop thinking of it like a puzzle that only has one singular answer. This isn’t a math problem. It’s a decision about your future, and sometimes the difference between the two schools is so small. Take a look at yourself and notice which college you check Instagram more of, which college you tend to tell people you are leaning more towards, or what feeling you have walking through the campuses. Think about which college you would rather spend a random Tuesday on, get coffee, walk to class with your friends, and walk back to your dorm. If one feels more natural than the other, that may be a sign. “I love my college because it feels so natural to me! It has my dream program too, so that is a plus” (Katie Ruoo 12). You’re allowed to factor in real things like financial aid, mental health support, weather, or how easy it is to get home for the holidays. Those details shape the college experience more than most people admit, and they are both convenient and essential. No matter what, you’re going to miss out on something. That doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong choice. It means you’ve been lucky enough to have more than one door open at once! There will always be a version of you who wonders what life would have looked like at the other beautiful school. Let yourself be proud of the version of you who chooses something and shows up fully for it.
Although your decision for college doesn’t define who you are for the rest of your life, it is still very important, so attached there is a checklist to compare the pros and cons of both! However, pick the place that feels a little more like home in your gut, even if your brain is still listing the pros and cons.
