Choosing the perfect college for yourself is an exciting, important, yet formidable task. There are so many factors that play into this decision that it can be overwhelming at times, especially since college may seem to be far off in the distance. From my experience, I have learned that it is important to see as many schools as you can; graduation will be here before you know it.
When I first started my search for my dream school, I looked at all small, medium, and large schools. I immediately realized that large universities were not for me. This was a good starting point, as it narrowed my focus drastically. I also visited schools in various areas of the country: Illinois, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Ohio, Florida, and finally Tennessee. This helped me to come to the decision that I liked the South, but I did not want to go extremely far from home.
After a while, the 15 plus schools all started to blend together, even after writing all the pros and cons in a journal, but I had a general idea of what I wanted and was determined to find it. While on my cross-country college expedition, I did not know at all what I wanted to study and learned that this is perfectly all right. On almost all my tours, the guide explained that the vast majority of students change their major at some point anyway. Knowing this, I decided it was important to go to a school that had a range of different classes I could take.
After months of searching, I was becoming a little frustrated and discouraged. The last school on my list to visit was a last-minute addition that I heard about from a friend: Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. The minute I stepped on the campus, I knew this was the school for me. It was a breathtakingly gorgeous, small, Southern, liberal arts school; everything I saw and heard in the information session fit my ideal image of what I wanted from a college. Although sports did not dictate my decision, when I realized I would be capable of playing division three tennis here as well as join a small sorority, my decision was made.
Finding the school that suits you can be time-consuming, frustrating, and intimidating, but it is definitely worth it when you finally know that you have found your home for the next four years. I am fully confident that I have made the right choice, and all the hesitations that I felt during my search have faded.
I am beyond excited to start my four-year adventure in the exciting city of Memphis at Rhodes College this fall.