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Old entry about college stuff
So as 2006 comes to a close, we all must perform the obligatory "This year in review" post. It's funny, because we almost have two "new years" in our lives- the beginning of the literal new year, and the beginning of the new school year. And it's funny because when we associate change over the course of a year, I think for everyone, the change occurs when a new school year begins, rather than the actual year. Wouldn't you agree? I mean I look back and I was only a junior about six months ago, but man have things changed since then. And when I think back even further to only a year ago, things were even more different, that I can hardly believe it's still the same year.
There have been so many events that led to growth and development over the year- new friends made, old friends lost, crushing heartbreak, amorous affection. But I think the one event that changes people (at least their mentalities) the most is the college process during the end and beginning of senior year. We live in the fantasy world of high school for three and a half years of our life, seeing the same faces, living in the same familiar house, surrounded by the same friends. But then the college process starts and you start realizing that high school will shortly be over, no matter how much you loved or hated it, you're packing up your bags soon and leaving. The reality of it doesn't even really hit you until the end of November and beginning of December, when you and your friends will hopefully already know you've gotten into college. But every year it has gotten harder. Kids have to work more, do more, and succeed more in order to achieve the same results of classes earlier. The applicant pool increases by millions each year, while the number of accepted students stays relatively stagnant. Since more 2400, 4.0 president/captain of ______ team kids are applying each year, schools must employ another filter. Unfortunately for the applicants, that filter isn't always something they can control. So each year, kids who hope to go to HarvardPrincetonYale and have the statistics for acceptance, may be "screwed from the get go."
Or are they?
We have to begin to realize that while being accepted by any ivy league is impressive, that doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be successful post graduation. We love name brands- $4.00 Cheerios over $1.50 Shaw's brand Oat Os any day. You know it, I know it, those companies know it. Schools know it too. They depend on their name to attract "customers." But under closer inspection, on the undergraduate level, each ivy league school is pretty much the same, along with those "second generation ivy league" schools. So what does that mean? It means college is what you make out of it, not what it makes out of you. You can either choose to let the name shape who you are so you can fit in, or you can choose a college that fits you.
After getting deferred, I've come to see the positive aspects of it. If I had gotten accepted early, I would not have applied to any other schools. It would have been great to be done right then and there, but that's just a temporary relief. Come spring time, I will hopefully have up to eleven schools to choose from, because I will have left those options open for myself. Also, the extra work that must be done will keep senioritis off my back for a few more months (although, Fred and I agree that senioritis doesn't really exist because we have scholarships, and then APs, and then getting a job...and more).
I have no idea who's going to read this whole thing, I don't even really know why I typed it all, nor does it really have anything to do with the obligatory "2006 in review" post. I guess that'll have to come after the 1st.
Anyway, this will probably be the last post of 2006, unless Sunday River proves to be UNFREAKIN BELIEVEABLE. Otherwise
Happy Holidays, Congrats to those who've gotten in early- you deserve it, and good luck to those of us still waiting. We'll all end up somewhere great, and be successful, no matter where we end up. Just keep in mind, any school would be LUCKY to have you.
Catch ya on the flip side.
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