As a first generation college student, April of my senior year in high school was a joyous but stressful month because there were so many questions I wanted answered and didn’t know where to turn. College brings a new set of challenges including financial aid, social fit and location, to name a few. Naturally, I turned to my family. My dad’s contribution existed in the same two phrases he was famous for … and I swear he only knows two phrases. The first was, “A CLOSED MOUTH DOESN’T GET FED,” an idea that only skimmed the surface of my mind at the time.
After 17 years in the same city, I was more than comfortable in my high school environment. As a California “warm-weather” person, I wrote a pros and cons list for one of my schools on which “weather” was the only “con.” Looking back, I laugh about what I thought were the most important differentiating factors.
As you think about making your choice, here are a few tips that I didn’t fully explore when trying to make my college decision process:
Looking back, my dad was encouraging self-advocacy. To summarize my dad’s advice, getting out of your comfort zone may be a large pill to swallow, but to quote Martin Luther King, Jr: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” With that in mind, our admissions officers are here to answer your questions by phone, email, or you can comment below with questions as well.
P.S. - If you’re wondering about the other piece of advice, it was “SUCK IT UP.” I swear these were the only words I heard until the age of 12. Brutally honest and helpful… depending on what mood I was in.