By Travis Measley | Published Sunday, October 5, 2008
Starting my first fall as a working man and not a student - high school, college or otherwise - I can't help but be slightly nostalgic about my days at Texas A&M University and wish that I was back there. This past year my little sister went through the process of finishing high school, choosing a college and going through all types of camps and orientations; I tell you, I was jealous. But she also went through the agonizing process of trying to decide what school she wanted to attend.
With the rankings and polls that come out every year, telling you what school is the best for this and that, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what school is the best fit for you, not to mention the fact that schools are harder and harder to get into now, especially in the state of Texas. To help you seniors (and parents) out there who are getting painstakingly close to having to choose a college for the fall of 2009, I have a few tips, based on my own experiences, to help you end up in the right place.
No. 1 - No major? No problem!
I think this is a huge misconception among college freshmen and their parents. "But how can I possibly choose the right school if I don't know what I want to study or what I want to be?" Data published by the Higher Education Research Institute in 2007 showed that 8.4 percent of college freshmen had not declared a major during their first semester, and I'll bet that number is on the low side. Colleges don't expect you to know that you want to be a cardiovascular surgeon on the first day, that's why for the first year or so you take all the courses that everyone has to take: basic sciences, math, history, English, etc. Just because your best friend knows he or she wants to be a lawyer or an engineer, doesn't mean you have to - many of my college friends changed majors more than once. It's about figuring out what you are passionate about, and that may take a semester or two. "So, how do I choose a school, now that I know it's OK to not know?" That leads me to my next point.
No. 2 - Look at the intangibles.
Let's look at schools in the Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana area: The University of Texas is constantly ranked near the top of all public schools in the county in many of their programs, but that doesn't mean it's Austin or bust. I hate to break this to you, but more times than not (notice this disclaimer), it doesn't matter which school's name is on the degree, it's the fact that you have a degree. At any major university in the area - Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, LSU, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Baylor - a 3.5 of 4.0 GPA is extremely impressive, and that is what your first boss looks at. So, take a look at the intangibles at the schools. Research the clubs and student activities on the campuses. Do they have student dorms? What about clubs within the major programs? Fraternities and sororities? I promise you, getting involved in your university, joining clubs, attending sporting events and having a great core group of friends is equally as important as classroom success. Neither should suffer at the expense of the other. Each of those schools I listed will provide you the opportunity to get a fantastic education, so make sure you are in a place that helps you develop as a person as well. Going to a school that has both classes and extracurricular activities that fit your personality is extremely important.
No. 3 - Schedule visits.
If you don't have your heart set on a school, visit all you apply to! Even though I spent most of my childhood at Texas A&M football games or wearing little maroon jerseys, the best thing I ever did was ride along with my high school girlfriend on her visit when she was a senior. I was only a junior at the time, but getting to see the day of a student, going into a dorm, a classroom, and seeing many of the things a student sees was better than anything I had ever heard from my dad, uncle or grandfather, about college life and Texas A&M. Take a visit. Ask as many questions as you have to, that's what tour guides and counselors are for. Every school appeals to each individual for a different reason - don't base your decision on what you parents, siblings or friends tell you - see for yourself. Also, when you do decide and get accepted, make sure you attend any orientation or camp they have to offer before the first semester. If it's Fish Camp at Texas A&M, Sooner Camp at OU, or whatever, make sure you attend. Those things are great ways to meet students in your same situation and create opportunities for things to do during the first few months of school.
No. 4 - Farther does not equal better.
We all go through it, especially in Texas. That thought of, "Man, I have to get out of Texas, away from my parents and the people I went to high school with." While that may actually be true for some, especially if it's for a special type of education that other states provide better, I would urge the majority to rethink this philosophy. Most large universities in the area have more than 20,000 students. There were more than 30 kids near my age that I knew from high school when I got to Texas A&M in 2004. When I had nothing to do, we hung out. When I didn't want to see them, I didn't - there were 44,000 other kids at A&M. College is such a great place to find your identity, do not be afraid that who you were before is who you have to be. And also, a quick note on parents: You may miss home a little more than you think. It's easy to go back for a warm meal and some clean clothes when you live only four or five hours away instead of 20. Just a thought.
These are just some of my personal tips after spending the best four years of my life - educationally, emotionally and socially - at the school that was the best fit for me. Take this process seriously, and remember that college is a lifestyle just as much as it is an educational process. Both are very important, and both need to complement each other for your time to be successful.
