I’m a Film & Media Studies major (Hollywood here I come???). And, I only figured out I wanted to be one towards the end of sophomore year when I absolutely had to declare a major, because, apparently, that’s a thing we all need to graduate (a useful piece of information, I believe). Here’s the fun part, I came into Tufts all but officially declaring myself a Biopsychology and Archaeology double major. I was so certain that that’s what I would end up doing. Now when I talk with my friends about this, and we share our initial major thoughts, it cracks us up.
The reason this is important, is because what I was studying played a huge part in how I looked at schools, narrowed them down, and did my research. When I read up about them, which, as an international student was the only way I could find out about the schools I wanted to apply to, my subjects of interest were what I used as one of the most important metrics. Looking back, while that served me well enough, I did truly luck out with coming to Tufts, because some of the other schools I applied just didn’t have great film programs, and I am not quite sure what the last few years would have looked like.
I realise now that, what was perhaps more important to consider, rather than specific subjects, was academic rigour at a school (because whether your high school self wants to admit it or not, it will make or break your college experience), resources that the school has to help with health - both mental & physical, academic stressors, transition advisors (believe you me, they’ll come in handy), and more than anything else, what the student population has to say about life at the school (Hi!!!). College is such a time of change and development, 99% of people go in and come out almost completely different people. As 18 year olds, no matter how much we did/do know, we couldn’t/can’t predict the future. And while looking for specifics is important, remembering to make sure the school has structures in place that will positively impact your growth over the next four years is so key to having a successful college career - because while we do come to college to develop professional skills, I must admit, my personal growth is what strikes me, and a lot of people the most.
Feature image credit: Tufts University fireworks, 30 April 2010 by Chris Devers licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0