As I approach my last semester of college, I am just beginning to think about my journey.
It has been a great four years of my life that has provided tribulation and learning experiences. I took a huge leap of faith and risk when I decided to come to Missouri for school. I was from Denver and had never visited the area. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But little did I know I would enjoy it.
I can't believe three years have past. Mizzou started out as a daunting far away place but I have grown on my experience here. Moving away from home and what I knew has made me self-confident and self-aware. I had no idea I possessed the ability to go to the top journalism school and graduate from the journalism school. And I had no idea that I was as social as my shy personality deemed.
I loved that fear of giving up a past life and almost starting over. My past life isn't gone as I still have those old friends but I got to dictate a whole new direction. Remake friends, rebuild bridges, use what I have learned to go far.
I decided to reflect on my experience to help students decide between schools. I had searched for an in-state school but was not satisfied with what I found. I visited campuses and did not feel like I belonged. So I began to search for the unaffordable route of going to school out-of-state. I applied to several colleges across the country and I got into Mizzou, the top for my degree, and I just knew I had to go.
Here are some tips for searching for colleges:
- Do not narrow out-of-state because of price. Mizzou is the easiest school to get in-state tuition. Stay a year and you are granted in-state tuition. Look for schools and states with easy programs like this if you really want to go out-of-state. Sometimes out-of-state is comparable to in-state pricing.
- Out-of-state can be emotionally draining for you if you need parental support. When you go out-of-state, you are alone until you start making friends. You often have to make some big decisions without parental guidance. But you also grow from these decisions. Can you do it?
- Go to schools known for your academic field of study. I did not know how important this was until I got to Mizzou. No where else can I gain the quality of education and the experience than by going to the top school for my degree. Not to mention, employers love to see the degree from the top school to make you even more employable in a tough economy.
- Get a job and save for college now. If you are in college, work to start paying off college debt. It is quite amazing when you review finances and see that you took $10,000 out each year to pay for school and realize you are $40,000 in debt when you graduate. You begin wonder where that money went. Even if you pay off a little, it will help.
- Make new friends and grow. Expand your network and allow yourself to be around people.
- Don't be afraid of failure. College is harder than high school. Use resources but know that things may take awhile to adjust.
-Apply to scholarships. Search sites for weird ones. Think of something you do that may narrow down the poll. Do you play a sport, instrument, volunteer, have good grades, work, or do any military service?
Truth is, I am scared to graduate. The world is bigger than Mizzou. I have already done one big risk by leaving Colorado but moving again after I just got settled is a bit unnerving. Especially when I love the life I built.
I am most likely to San Diego after college when I graduate in December 2012. My husband and I are stationed in the Navy there which while I think will be fun, it will be hard to begin my career as a journalist out there. Number 11 broadcast market is not where I pictured myself going but with hard work again, I can do it.
With beginning of my last semester at the Zou, I prepare to leave with my memories and heart. And let them take me where I have never imagined.
Here are some helpful links to determine how to decide a college:
I also trekked across the country to come here. I'm from Maryland. I went to undergrad an hour from home and it's really hard being this far away from my parents.
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling me about the in-state tuition after a year. I could use that.
Great luck to you in your future!