Falling in love with a college

[Thunderstorm]

I'm a junior in high school. I'm visiting colleges through August. We've already planned the visits to Penn State, SUNY Albany and Florida State. Most likely will stop by Rutgers and possibly Ohio State. I will be going for meteorology.

I'm worried. We aren't poor but nor are we rich. My mom is pressuring me to choose SUNY Albany. She claims they have a good meteorology program (they supposedly do) and she went there. It's also in-state tuition which is the main reason. I understand she claims it has all I need for my major and tuition is great but I'm scared I'm going to fall in love with another college. I'm iffy on Penn State but I'm already falling for Florida. And possibly Ohio State. Now, if I don't get in is one thing. But if I do get in to one of those and Albany, I'll be devastated. My mom WON'T make me go to an in-state school per say but she will pressure me with the looming burden of student loans. I'm just hoping for a scholarship.

What do I do if I visit, fall in love, and then won't give up? And if I don't get a scholarship? I have nothing AGAINST Albany (besides the weather is even colder than here). I just love FSU and Ohio so much!

[SethfromMI]

I will be going to the University of Michigan! it is in my home town and I love it. Go Blue!

[Typhlosion]

Dude, take it slowly. You still got, what, two years to think about it? You might even change interests/locations in the meanwhile or learn more about their courses. I mean, in the end, it's mostly the end that really counts - that diploma, GPA, achievements, and contacts. Maybe one University ranks higher than another, but that doesn't make the other bad either. Classes are just a guide for you to continue studying beyond what college shows you. Do colleges in the US allow non-students watching classes? You could try a few days at one and another and figure out what you like best.

I'm kinda in a similar situation. After failing one college, the second one I will go to soon I'm very not-fond of. I'm trying to build a positive light around the whole idea though

[Thunderstorm]

I will be going to the University of Michigan! it is in my home town and I love it. Go Blue!

I was looking at UMich but they don't have Meteorology. Michigan State does but they're Michigan State :P

Dude, take it slowly. You still got, what, two years to think about it? You might even change interests/locations in the meanwhile or learn more about their courses. I mean, in the end, it's mostly the end that really counts - that diploma, GPA, achievements, and contacts. Maybe one University ranks higher than another, but that doesn't make the other bad either. Classes are just a guide for you to continue studying beyond what college shows you. Do colleges in the US allow non-students watching classes? You could try a few days at one and another and figure out what you like best.

I'm kinda in a similar situation. After failing one college, the second one I will go to soon I'm very not-fond of. I'm trying to build a positive light around the whole idea though

Well, I actually have 5 months to decide where to apply. I must come in on the first day of school in September knowing where I'm going to go and apply to them.
I am definitely not changing interests. I've loved meteorology for at least 10 years. However, I want to go to a big school so I have backup options.
We can't just watch another class unless we are signed up. However, I'll be sitting in on a class when I do my college tours so I'll get an idea. I'm just worried about money issues.

[SethfromMI]

I was looking at UMich but they don't have Meteorology. Michigan State does but they're Michigan State :P



Well, I actually have 5 months to decide where to apply. I must come in on the first day of school in September knowing where I'm going to go and apply to them.
I am definitely not changing interests. I've loved meteorology for at least 10 years. However, I want to go to a big school so I have backup options.
We can't just watch another class unless we are signed up. However, I'll be sitting in on a class when I do my college tours so I'll get an idea. I'm just worried about money issues.

haha it is all good. that in-state tuition can be a big deal, but got to go where you think is best. plus, there are many colleges which charge the same either way so it all depends. I think it is cool you want to do meteorology. so many around here really just never have a clue what is going to happen. money is always an issue, but don't let it stop you from pursuing your dreams

[Thunderstorm]

haha it is all good. that in-state tuition can be a big deal, but got to go where you think is best. plus, there are many colleges which charge the same either way so it all depends. I think it is cool you want to do meteorology. so many around here really just never have a clue what is going to happen. money is always an issue, but don't let it stop you from pursuing your dreams

Yeah, I am trying not to let money make my decision for me. I'm hoping I can get a scholarship, and wherever I get it from, I will consider that school a lot.

[Akatosh]

Oh boy do I ever understand the feeling. I've been head over heels in love with Oxford since I was a young child. Still want to go there; if I don't get accepted for their grad program I may as well just give up on life. I've never loved a city, nor a school, like I do Oxford. I got the opportunity to study there for a summer and I will never go back.

Here's what you do: work your butt off in school. Study early for your SAT's. Get involved with something extracurricular, maybe volunteer for a good cause. If your school has a debate club or a MUN, join it because colleges eat that shit up. Debate's a lot of fun, too!

[SethfromMI]

Yeah, I am trying not to let money make my decision for me. I'm hoping I can get a scholarship, and wherever I get it from, I will consider that school a lot.

well do you got good grades? are you involved with sports or anything? things like that can go along way. you will definitely get something, even financial need based. an option I do not know if you want to consider or not, is doing your basic courses at a community college. you would save thousands that way (you probably would literally save that much depending where you ended up going) and then transfer after two years or so

[Thunderstorm]

well do you got good grades? are you involved with sports or anything? things like that can go along way. you will definitely get something, even financial need based. an option I do not know if you want to consider or not, is doing your basic courses at a community college. you would save thousands that way (you probably would literally save that much depending where you ended up going) and then transfer after two years or so

I have a 95.775 average. I am Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper, in NHS, do Jazz band, Tri-M Music Honor Society, have worked at a summer camp, and a temple.
Community college isn't really an option. But I am taking college classes in high school and I get great college credits in those classes.

[SethfromMI]

I have a 95.775 average. I am Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper, in NHS, do Jazz band, Tri-M Music Honor Society, have worked at a summer camp, and a temple.
Community college isn't really an option. But I am taking college classes in high school and I get great college credits in those classes.

yes I am taking some of those AP classes to get college credit too :). and you got a lot of impressive stuff to put on the application

[Thunderstorm]

yes I am taking some of those AP classes to get college credit too :). and you got a lot of impressive stuff to put on the application

Yeah I take APUSH and had a 99 for the first semester and for AP Lang & Comp I had a 92 for the second semester. I'm taking College Spanish right now. Next year I am taking AP Gov, Ap Chem, College Calc, College Sociology and College English.
What extracurriculars do you have?

[SethfromMI]

Thunderstorm Well I play football and baseball, but after getting a second conclusion this season, I am not sure if my parents want me playing next year

[ImCoolBeans]

Follow your heart. As much as your mother may be trying to look out for you in the long run, she may not realize that it might mean a lot more to you to go to a school of your choosing, that you fell in love with on your own. College should be mainly about receiving an education, but it doesn't just stop there. It's a major life experience and I think everybody should do it the way that they want to receive the best experience they can from it.

My best advice is to visit every school that you want to go to, do your research, and pick the one that you love the most, whether it is in state or not. Either way you'll likely have some loans at the end, and if you play it smart and start paying off the interest on the loans early, the burden won't be as bad as it would be otherwise.

[Thunderstorm]

Follow your heart. As much as your mother may be trying to look out for you in the long run, she may not realize that it might mean a lot more to you to go to a school of your choosing, that you fell in love with on your own. College should be mainly about receiving an education, but it doesn't just stop there. It's a major life experience and I think everybody should do it the way that they want to receive the best experience they can from it.

My best advice is to visit every school that you want to go to, do your research, and pick the one that you love the most, whether it is in state or not. Either way you'll likely have some loans at the end, and if you play it smart and start paying off the interest on the loans early, the burden won't be as bad as it would be otherwise.

Yeah my mom said I might even have loans for in state schools so I was like might as well go out of state!

[Failed Algebra]

I love astronomy and would like to go to a school that specializes in that. but a lot of older friends said don't pick a school on just ONE thing, because the whole 4 year experience is what you should be thinking about. Good advice but it's hard to put into the real world when all you do is focus on the thing that's important to you THAT day.

[guy1233]

i wanna go to the university of florida and ucla but i dont want the loans for me or my parents suny is the way to go im also from new york so i know too many ppl who go to suny and they do great

[benj2]

don't know still in school