Archive for the 'College Advice' Category
It’s about that time of year when perspective college students around the country will be getting their acceptance, or rejection letters. By now, you probably know that if the envelope is nice and fat, full of pamphlets and the like, then you’re in. However, if it’s a thin little sheet of paper you receive, then you’re either waitlisted, or worse, rejected.
In truth, rejection is not the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you in your young life. With universities the way they are these days, prestigious schools get many, many more applicants than they could ever hope to accept. And as the applicant pools go, students seem to be getting better and better grades, doing more extracurricular activities than ever before, and it is simply becoming more difficult to distinguish one’s self from the pack. So, maybe you’ve just gotten that depressing letter that has the beginning “we regret to inform you,” (You probably think they don’t regret it as much as you do). If so, then read my tale of rejection, and maybe it will put some perspective on the situation.
The Story
I applied to four schools my senior year. I was accepted by two and rejected by two. As it turns out, I ended up attending the back-up school of my back-up school. My dream school was The University of Pennsylvania. Specifically, The Wharton School of Business. I fell in love from the moment I made my first campus visit. It was the school for me. It was where I could be successful, comfortable, and happy. When it came time to apply, I did everything in the book I was supposed to, and then some. I even had my grandfather (who was an alumni) write a letter of recommendation. I wrote what I thought was the most amazing college essay ever written. It was an incredible opus in which I talked about how much I loved Penn, how much I wanted to be a part of the tradition, and so on. Alas, April came, and I received my tiny envelope. They truly regretted to inform me that I was rejected. It was a tough application class, and I didn’t make the cut. I wasn’t even waitlisted. My SAT and ACT scores were in range. My GPA was above average. I held a job throughout High School, played football and volleyball, and was even in plays. I wondered how it could happen to me, and where I went wrong.
Needless to say, I was quite distraught. Then, less than a week later, my backup school, The University of Notre Dame sent me another thin letter. Worst of all, one of my best friends, whom I had a higher GPA than, and almost as high SAT score (with a higher ACT score) got accepted. Was I inadequate? Was I simply someone who had too lofty expectations? A multitude of questions and thoughts of self-doubt flooded my brain for weeks. I was truly depressed, and felt that I had failed. I was too focused on my failure to even be happy for my friend. I was convinced that my life would never amount to anything, because I wasn’t going to be a Penn Quaker, or a Fighting Irish.
With that in mind, I had to choose between Purdue University and The Ohio State University. I decided to become a Buckeye, and, to make a long story short, I’m extremely happy I did so. I’ve had some great learning experiences, and created memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve experienced things that never would have been possible had I attended my first two choices. In fact, my freshman year I had the opportunity to go see my Buckeyes defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. Sure, in a different world I would have been standing on the other sideline, but it sure was sweet to cheer along with the victorious side. After the game, when I was singing the Alma Mater along with the fans, band, and football team, I felt like I was where I belonged all along.
The Moral
Looking back on it, over three years ago, I had the wrong idea about college. The college you go to does not make you who you are. It can certainly help mold you and set you off in the right direction in your adult life, but it doesn’t complete you. Dream schools are great, but they are not the end-all, be-all of colleges. Simply because some report ranks a college high in a certain area doesn’t mean that you are nothing if you don’t attend that specific school.
College is supposed to be a personal journey. College is all about learning and growing. Your dream school can certainly help you do that. However, those back-up schools you might be snubbing could probably be just as successful in helping you achieve your goals.
If you get a rejection letter from a school you had your heart set on, don’t think of it as the end of the world. As lame as it might sound, think of it as a new beginning. In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, it seems that too many people get caught up with rankings, hiring rates, and other numbers that really don’t say much about who they’ll become. Who is more successful, the Harvard graduate who scrapes by with C’s and ends up getting a dead-end job working for some company, or the state-school graduate who works hard, makes an impact at his or her university, and uses college as a time to grow into a successful adult? It’s all about what you DO in college, not what college you attend. One movie I love that concerns college is Orange County. I don’t want to give away too much if you haven’t seen it, but the idea that your college doesn’t define you, and that you don’t need to go to a certain school to be successful is central to the film’s plot.
Remember, those admissions officers don’t really know you, they only have a glimpse of what you’ve done in high school via your application. They could be missing out on one of the best students to ever walk through their door. Just because some person looking at a piece of paper, trying to determine if you are worthy of admission, decides that you are not, doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Also, being rejected from your school of choice doesn’t always have to be the end of the story. You can always work hard and attempt to transfer, or take a year off and re-apply. Remember, if life closes a door on you, it will usually open a window. The bottom line is, if things didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to, it’s not the end of the world. No letter can make or break you. It’s what you do when confronted with adversity that defines you. So, if you’re reading this, having recently been rejected, you have two options:
1. Feel sorry for yourself, and hold regret that you didn’t work hard enough, and rue the day you tried applying to your target school.
2. Take the rejection as an opportunity and run with it.
After wasting time with 1, I eventually chose 2. Which one will you choose?
April 30 2008 | Admissions and College Advice and Pre-College Decisions | No Comments »
Many, but not all, college campuses have some sort of Greek life. There are varying degrees of involvement. For example, Williams has the highest percentage of Greek involvement. If you go to a college that has Greek life, chances are someone will try to recruit you. A lot of people have opinions both positive and negative about Greek organizations. From personal experience, I was one of those people who always thought “I’ll never become a frat boy” and “sorority girls are attractive, but unintelligent.” Then along came a cool guy I went to high-school with. He was president of the chapter at Ohio State, and invited me to come out to a few Rush events. Well, as it turns out, the guys were all pretty cool, and I decided to pledge. How I arrived at the decision was simply by looking at the pros and cons and doing what I thought was best for me. So here are the pros and cons of joining a sorority or fraternity.
Cons
1. Dues – This is College and Finance, so money is the primary concern. Costs of membership aren’t universal at all. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate your own situation. Be aware that you must pay your dues, or face the consequences (again, these vary depending on the organization). Many fraternities and sororities offer payment plans; some even have scholarships, which can help offset costs (if you’re getting extra money for college, you can use leftovers for dues). Evaluate if it’s cheaper to live in house, or live out of the house and pay dues. Essentially, before you make your decision, consider the costs.
2. Stigma – The thoughts I used to have about Greek Life are not uncommon. Depending on your circle of friends, some people will certainly look at you differently. In my own circle of friends from high school, I have been very hesitant to share my decision. Be prepared to be judged at times if you’re wearing your letters around campus (either by people not in Greek Life, or by people from other Fraternities/Sororities). I grew up, and realized that you can’t judge people based on one idea, but there’s no guarantee that other people will. Consider your parents as well (especially if they are going to be paying for it). Some parents will not have been in Greek Life, and may think the only reason you’re joining is to party, which would obviously make them less open to the idea.
3. Drama – There are social, cultural, and service fraternities and sororities, as well as many more. In any event, there will be drama. Large groups of people from different backgrounds can often lead to drama, so prepare for it. Not to mention, any rivalries with other Greek organizations on campus and that’s quite a bit of social dynamics to deal with. If you hate drama with a passion, I wouldn’t suggest living in-house. If you’re required to live in-house, then learn to deal with your hatred, or consider not joining.
4. Pledge Process – I hesitate to list this as a Con, because it is an experience. Processes are different amongst organizations, but the general consensus is that it does suck to be a pledge at times. However, I’ve had a lot of fun as well. The process is supposed to be difficult though, so be aware of that. If you hate listening to authority, doing what you’re told, doing anything you would not want to do normally, and then you should strongly consider not going Greek. Hazing is condemned by all Greek organizations (that I’m aware of), but everyone knows that a certain level will most likely take place. Depending on how you deal with it, it can be a very big con, a minor annoyance, or enjoyable.
Pros
1. Parties – Basically, parties are one of the best things about going Greek. You’ll have access to many more social events (even if your fraternity or sorority isn’t technically in the “social” category). You’ll meet a lot more people, and will probably not have any reason to ever be bored on a Friday night. For me, personally, this was one of the biggest deciding factors. Since I decided to live off-campus, my social activity dropped considerably. Being in a Fraternity was a great way to get me to stop playing WoW and interact with the real world.
2. Leadership Positions – If you want to hold a position of leadership, than being in a Greek Organization is a great way to do it. There are many positions (although they differ amongst organizations) that require steadfast leadership, intelligence, and hard work. If leading, organizing, planning, etc. appeals to you than Greek Life might be right up your alley.
3. Resume Building – While this isn’t a good reason to join if it is your only reason, it is definitely a plus. With holding leadership positions, you can certainly help that resume look better. Just being involved with something, or doing service can really help resume building. It can definitely put you on the right track to getting a job right out of college. Many fraternities and sororities have service activities that members must participate in. If you’re interested in simply giving back to the community, then it might be a good way to give back, AND help your resume in the process. Remember, if building your resume is the only reason you want to become a part of Greek life, you may want to re-think your decision.
4. Connections – Speaking of jobs, being in a sorority or fraternity CAN definitely help you gain employment, internships, or at the very least an interview or two. Depending on the scope of your organization, the career benefits can be tremendous. Whenever you become a member of a Nation-wide Fraternity or Sorority, you become immediately connected with every other member (both active, and alumni) outside your own chapter. The stories are endless of people who randomly meet a member from another chapter and end up getting offered jobs on the spot.
5. Life-long friendships – Sometimes people have difficulty meeting people in college and forging life long friendships (especially if they go to very large universities). Fraternities and sororities are a great way to meet new people and form friendships that last a lifetime. Sisterhood and brotherhood are two very emphasized areas in Greek life. As a result, many Greek members are committed to it. For those looking to forge great relationships, Greek life might be the way to go.
In the end, it comes down to a personal decision. There may be positives and negatives to joining a Greek organization (as with anything in life). It turned out that for me, the positives far outweighed the negatives. However, that may not always be the case. One important thing to keep in mind is to never make assumptions, and never be afraid to try things out for yourself. So, if you’re thinking about going Greek, hopefully this post provided you with some useful information.
March 14 2008 | College Advice | No Comments »
When you’re living in dormitories, or have roommates, when one person gets sick, it usually means other people are soon to get sick. For example, I am now dealing with a sinus infection that was passed from my friend to me, and now my roommate is sick too. Thinking on this, I’ve come up with a number of things you can do to help prevent those sicknesses (because, trust me, taking a midterm with a pounding headache and a terrible cough is no picnic).
Prevention
1. Vitamins – Obviously I don’t have scientific proof, but I’ve found that when I take vitamins every day, I feel much healthier, and get sick much less. Case and point, I stopped taking vitamins for about a week, and then got sick. Could just be a coincidence, but better safe than sorry, right?
2. Don’t share drinks – It’s easy to share drinks, especially at parties. Sometimes one may even simply want to try a new beer his or her roommate has. Whatever the case, it’s never a good idea. There’s no telling what kind of germs your friends/roommates have, and as I’ve said in previous posts, Mono seems to be rampant on campuses, so you definitely want to be extra careful.
3. Try to get sleep – Sometimes it seems as though college students are chronically sleep deprived. There’s no better way to weaken an immune system than a lack of good sleep. Many experts say 9 hours of sleep a night is what the human body needs to be healthy. In a college utopia, I’m sure everyone could get that. Unfortunately, in the real world, most students have to scrape by on 6 or 7 if they’re lucky. The best plan is to try to set “desired” bedtimes. You may not always meet them, but goal setting is always helpful. Try to get at least 7 hours in a given night if you can. It helps to be prepared and start long papers earlier instead of later to avoid pesky all-nighters.
4. Eat healthy – There’s only so much that vitamins can do. If you are taking vitamins but eating pizza and drinking beer for every meal, your body won’t be getting a healthy source of nutrients. Try to have some fruit in vegetables at least with one meal a day. Cafeteria food is often pretty terrible tasting, but you can at least take a trip to the salad bar, or the fruit basket if your school has one. Try to go to the “healthy” place to eat on campus at least once a week (you know, the place where everything is organic etc, every campus has one). Eating healthy may cost a little extra, but if you do it occasionally, your wallet won’t hate you too much.
5. Exercise – Some of the healthiest people I’ve met who get sick the least also work out the most. They run, swim, bike, lift weights, and more. Getting into the gym a few times a week is a great way to bolster that immune system while making yourself look and feel better. Case and point, I stopped working out for two weeks, and got sick. Coincidence? I think not. Not to mention, exercise is a great way to release stress and make you feel good about yourself.
Remedies
So even if you’re the healthiest person on the floor. Even if you take vitamins, eat healthy, and exercise, you will still most likely get sick sometime in college. Don’t panic though, the best way to get better is to attack the problem with medicine, get sleep, eat well, and avoid making the situation worse by doing something insane like partying.
1. Get sleep – If you’re sick enough, you’ll probably want to sleep anyway. So listen to your body and get some good rest. If you can’t sleep, you should take some fever medication that makes you sleep, as well as alleviates symptoms. If you’re not getting any sleep before you get sick, you should definitely get some after you become sick.
2. Drink tea – This is something I always do when I’m sick and it always seems to help. Some nice tea always clears me up a bit and especially helps with throat/sinus problems.
3. Family Remedies – Whatever your mom and dad used to give you to make you feel better probably works even in college. If your mom always gave you chicken noodle soup, then heat some up for yourself.
4. Don’t party – I tried to go to a party when I was feeling under the weather once. It was one of the worst decisions of my life. Even if it is the biggest party of the year, you should stay home and rest, because I’m almost positive you’ll regret it if you don’t.
5. Know when to skip class – If you can’t get out of bed, let alone think, I wouldn’t suggest going to class. A lot of college students feel great pressure to not miss class and fall behind. If you’re sick, you’re sick. Your professors will understand. If they need a doctor’s note, then go to the doctor and get checked up, then give them the note. If you can’t get a note for some reason, then consider how crucial the class will truly be. Missing one class because you’re sick won’t kill your GPA.
So there you have it, five ways to prevent, and five ways to help cure the common cold in college. The important thing to remember is to stay on top of your work, while understanding your body’s limitations. Getting sick in college isn’t the end of the world; it is just very inconvenient.
February 05 2008 | College Advice | No Comments »
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