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Choosing a College
Advice from the Class of 2005
by Adaire Chatry
GPA, class rank, ACT, SAT, AP testing, TOPS, acceptance rate. The unfamiliar language of the daunting process associated with the search for the perfect college is enough to make high school students’ heads spin—and those of their parents!
Every year, many northshore parents immerse themselves in brochures and Web sites while students cram extracurriculars and standardized test scores into their bursting résumés. One wide-eyed parent says about the search, “It just isn’t the same as when I was applying to colleges. It’s a whole new world.”
With thousands of colleges and universities in the United States, making the best choice can seem overwhelming. Luckily, I’ve finished that chaotic chapter of my life, and so have the other four girls featured here. All members of the northshore’s high school Class of 2005, we returned this summer from universities all over the nation. Now members of the Class of 2009, with our freshman year under our belts and school spirit running through our veins, we are ready to give an inside look at our chosen colleges while imparting some general sage advice to our friends still in high school.
Christina Phillips, Louisiana State University
Initially, Christina Phillips did not want to go to LSU, because “it was where everyone always went.” She says, however, “Two years before I graduated from high school, my brother began attending LSU. I visited the campus many times and slowly fell in love with it.”
Christina attends LSU Honors College, which holds its students to higher standards than the regular undergraduate program, and she enjoys the challenge. “I love having smaller classes, and I feel the honors curriculum pushes us to think deeper into each subject we study, while encouraging closer relationships with the professors.” A Spanish major, Christina helped found LSU’s Spanish Club in her freshman year. “The club is still very small, but hopefully it will grow in the years to come.”
Christina notes that, with more than 300 student organizations striving to meet the many unique interests of the university’s vast student body, there’s something for everybody. “Of course,” she says, “LSU’s sporting events always bring about a great deal of excitement and support from the students.” She insists the school spirit is “almost tangible” during football season.
Kristen Kennedy, University of Mississippi
Kristen Kennedy also enjoys the spirit of football season—but on the opposite side of the stands from Christina Phillips. Kristen was originally attracted to Ole Miss, as it is affectionately called, by the beauty of the Oxford campus. She says, “The old Southern-style buildings with the large columns and sitting porches surrounded by gorgeous landscaping [are] picture perfect.” Oxford is a five-hour drive from her home in Mandeville and an hour away from Memphis. She considers it the perfect campus location, not too far from home, and even closer to good shopping, music and food!
A student in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Kristen thinks that the smaller classes, in addition to helping her form relationships with her classmates, also made the transition from high school to college easier. She easily found organizations and activities that interested her on campus, becoming a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and playing intramural soccer. Kristen says, “Greek life at the University of Mississippi, with all of its activities and events, is a great way to get involved, but not a necessity.” About 35 percent of the female students and 25 percent of the male students at the university are members of Greek organizations.
Amy Seal, Southeastern Louisiana University
Amy Seal sings the praises of Greek life. A proud member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, she took on the responsibility of three offices in her freshman year. “We do a lot of community service projects and events around campus, which help me to stay involved and meet lots of amazing people.”
As enthusiastic as Amy is now about her college choice, a year ago she was not so sure. She admits, “Southeastern was not where I originally planned on going to college. I was enrolled at a big, out-of-state college until the last minute. When it came close to time to leave, I realized that I wanted to be closer to home—and the TOPS money certainly didn’t hurt either!”
By attending a university only 30 miles away, Amy was able to keep her job at a preschool in Mandeville. “My major is Early Childhood Education, so my experiences there help a great deal with my classes.” Amy happily and eagerly returned to her “backup school” this fall. She says, “I guess I didn’t have many expectations going into SLU, but it has far exceeded anything I could have ever imagined.”
Meghan Tennyson, Stevens Institute of Technology
Meghan Tennyson had two criteria when she was applying to colleges. Born and raised in Folsom, she wanted to experience a new part of the country—and she wanted to play soccer. Meghan chose Stevens, a small technological school in Hoboken, New Jersey, after talking to the soccer coach and visiting the campus. “I knew it was just what I wanted because it was small and in a really great town only ten minutes from New York City.”
Majoring in engineering, the classes she took in her first semester were very technical and helped her learn the importance of attention to detail. When she’s not playing soccer or studying (“Classes are hard!”), she’s involved in some form of community service for the fraternity-sorority Alpha Pi Omega.
Off to an impressive start, Meghan was named Steven’s Engineering Cup Tournament Most Valuable Player in her first semester. This summer she traveled to Brazil, where she played soccer against local club teams. Stevens has given Meghan the opportunity to exercise all of her talents while expanding her horizons beyond past limitations.
Adaire Chatry,
University of Dallas
I am spending my fall semester having classes in the Pantheon, studying in the Roman Forum, and admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The University of Dallas, a small Catholic liberal arts college, has a campus in Rome, Italy in addition to its primary campus in Irving, Texas. In their sophomore year, students have their opportunity to spend a semester at the Rome campus, taking classes from the university’s core curriculum and experiencing a new culture.
I applied to the University of Dallas after the encouragement of my cousins who attended and loved the school. I actually had my heart set on a big-name school with a gorgeous campus, elitist acceptance rate and a 35-page application. I was soon persuaded by the welcoming students and professors who make UD feel like home, however. I realized that the school name on my college diploma did not represent the worth of my education. At UD, I am challenged every day, not just in my classes, but also by my friends and classmates who are always ready to discuss whatever we’re studying or reading. With the Rome semester, the stimulating classes and the wide spectrum of campus activities, I can’t imagine a better place to spend these four years.
Making Your Choice
Consider what you want. Which appeals to you more, a big public university like LSU or a small private school like UD? Would you like to stay close to home like Amy, or do you want to experience another part of the country like Meghan? It took me almost a year to answer these questions, so don’t worry if you can’t articulate your answers immediately. This process takes time.
Leave yourself options. Most students change their major at least once in their four years, so look for a school where you can nurture any interest or talent you may develop.
Don’t shy away from challenges. Yes, college is hard. But the harder it is, the more you are learning. Challenges will pop up inside and outside of the classroom, so get involved on campus and make new friends. A college education is supposed to stretch your limitations and expand your mind to think critically.
Make the best of wherever you end up. Most colleges and universities in the United States strive to create new programs and methods to enhance the education they provide. It’s unlikely that any school on your list will be terrible! And, as Amy and I did, you may end up at your dream school.
The Wisdom of Our Experience
Certain issues will inevitably crop up in the concerns and fears of college-bound students. The five of us who have survived our freshman year offer these words of caution and encouragement.
Time management. Going from high school to college is a huge transition, no matter what. I only moved about 30 miles away, but it was still a big change. Being independent and on your own does not just mean staying out until early morning. You have to take school seriously, and that has to come first. I took 17 hours my first semester, and worked 30 hours a week. When you add that to Katrina, being away from home for the first time, getting involved on campus and keeping up with family and friends, I learned very quickly not to bite off more than I could chew. – Amy Seal
Dorm living. Living in a dorm is something most freshmen are concerned about. But it truly was a blast. With so many girls around, there was never a dull moment. It is a great place to meet new people and inevitably make some great friendships. Sure, community bathrooms aren’t anyone’s favorite, but they are not nearly as bad as we imagined. – Kristen Kennedy
Leaving home. I think experiencing new people and places is a vital part of the college learning experience. As for living away from home, my teammates and coaches helped me adjust, but the New Jersey winter often kept me wanting some Louisiana heat! – Meghan Tennyson
New friends. Make your college decisions for yourself, not anyone else! I was scared about losing my high school friends when we went to different colleges, but instead I made lots of new friends and kept in touch with the old. No matter where my friends go, I will always stay close to them. – Christina Philips
Well, there you have it. The “experts” have spoken. From sororities to traveling abroad, there is much to know about the opportunities, hesitations and decisions awaiting you. However, most of it is best learned by experience—and trust me, there will be many memorable experiences! So don’t stress the process; enjoy it. These four years only happen once, but they can be one of the best times of your life.
