A couple of weeks ago I attended College Night, and let me tell you, it was very bizarre to be there.
I remember going the year before with my sister and not paying attention to anything that was happening. I was most likely bored out of my mind.
But College Night this year was anything but boring. It was so surreal to think that I would be going to college soon.
There is a lot of planning to do for college. You foremost need to pick a major. If you don't have one, don't sweat it. A number of people go to college without a major. You may figure out, while at college, what you would like to do with your future.
Talking to your parents is an immense help. Ask them what the budget is for college. If you're going to have to take out loans, it's better to find out ahead of time. If you learn that you do, then you could look into scholarships. Many colleges give out all kinds of scholarships for sports, SAT or ACT scores or your GPA average.
If there's a college you're interested in, the Internet is a great resource to get information. Most colleges have a website about their curriculum, what they have to offer, about their campus, and much more. Plenty of colleges' websites state information about their scholarships.
It's good to find out what the required GPA or test scores are, so that you have plenty of time to raise your average. The websites also include when their dates are for open house. Going to an open house would be a very wise thing to do. That way you learn and see firsthand, what the college has to offer for you and your major.
College can definitely seem overwhelming when thinking about it. But once you get used to the idea of college, you'll start becoming more open to it.
Going to college with your best friend may seem like a good idea, but if you're only interested in that particular school just because your friend is going there, then that's not the school for you. I understand how hard it will be to leave your friends and family, but you can and will meet many new people.
Being nervous is probably one of the strongest feelings that you could have. I certainly am nervous to grow up and move away. It can be scary thinking that soon enough, you will be on your own. Just realize that there are thousands upon thousands of other students sharing similar feelings. Maybe you have an older sister or an older friend or even a relative who recently went to college. Talk to them and discuss how they felt and how they calmed down their nerves.
While college might be important to some, it may not be for everyone. If you believe you're not ready for college, sit down and talk to your parents about how you feel. At some point you may change your mind and decide you want to.
If you aren't ready for college, you should do something with your life in the meantime. People who sit around tend to get lazy. You could get a job or do some volunteering at something you might be interested in. My dad took a job after coming out of the Army while trying to decide what to do for a career. It turns out he made a career out of that job. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, it could help you find what you want to do for the rest of your life.
Being nervous, stressed and exhausted are all emotions that come to mind when I begin to think about college, but it doesn't have to be like that. If you start planning early enough, preparing for college could be a breeze. Just relax, because before you know it, you will be out of college and getting on with the rest of your life. Everyone has a different outlook on college and their experience; make yours an excellent one.
Melissa Flathmann is a junior at Oneonta High School. Would you like A Word of Advice from her? Send her an e-mail at melissa�flath@yahoo.com or send her a letter to "Teen Talk: A Word of Advice," C/O The Daily Star, P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820.
