We're Starting Over

Right, so this is where I delete all posts from the pasts and start fresh. Part one, check. Part two, in the process. So in order for this to be meaningful, there will be no complaining on my part about how bad my day was or what not because that is not what people care about and if you do care about my problems, apparently you don't have enough of your own to deal with.

I'm into my first month of college and as exciting as it has been, it's also been a real stress-er. For the record, I don't think that's a word, but thanks to lovely Firefox and it's spell check, it says it is. I'm not sure how many people are going to get a hold of this blog but for the record, I think I'm going to aim this towards seniors in high school.

Guys, if you ever find this, I was in your shoes last year. Trying to find the perfect college for you is hard. Finding the perfect major is even harder. Especially if you have a crazy mother like mine who wouldn't let me pursue what I really love: photography or dance. Apparently you can't make a career out of it. Who knew?

That's why you need a back up plan just in case your parents are like that. I didn't have a back up plan so I did what every girl seemed to do and go for education. Let me tell you now, if you don't do well with stress or people throwing a lot at you at once, this is not a major for you because it's certainly not one for me. I'm sticking it out simply because I have a teacher in my family who's been-there-done-that and can keep me somewhat sane while I try to do this.

But here's some tips on finding your school and finding your major.

1. Don't pick a school simply because all your friends are choosing it. Break away from the pack and choose to be different. You can't always follow along with the crowd and it's good to be your own person. You can always see them too. Invest in a Skype account and a webcam and you can chat whenever. I've heard there are other sites too for chatting like that with your friends but I'm not sure what they're called. Anyways, it's helpful to stay in touch even though everyone has a Facebook or cell phone.
   
2. Decide what you really like doing and go from there. You don't want to be stuck doing something you settled with because someone told you you couldn't make something of yourself doing what you really love to do. If you want to be an artist, go for it. If you want to start a band and make it big, go for it. As long as you have the drive to do it, anything is possible. Make a list of your interests and look to see what majors could possibly fall under any of them if college is really in your future. Once you find your major, that's when you look for your school.
3. Pick your school based on your major. Schools are known for their programs. A lot of schools in Pennsylvania are known for teaching. (A little fact I learned from someone here; it actually produces like twice the teachers needed and has to "export" their teachers.) Look for the school that specializes in your major. The better they are at teaching you that, the more you're going to learn. You also have to pay attention to the placement rate for that job from that school. You're going to want a job after college.
4. APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! I didn't do it. I'll admit it but it was a stupid thing to do. NEVER PASS UP FREE MONEY. If you are eligible for a scholarship, apply because that's less money coming out of your pocket or a loan. Loans are your last resort. If you can't get enough to pay for school through grants and scholarships, then turn to loans. Just remember, at one point or another, you have to pay them back so only take what you need.
   
5. Buy used books. A lot of schools now even rent out books for the semester. You just need to decide if you're going to need that book later on. If you do, buy it used. If not, rent it. It's a useful way to save money. Books for college are not cheap. You can even order them online from school. The sooner you do that, the more likely it is you'll get used books. New isn't always the best.
   
6. You don't need to listen when they tell you to join clubs. I'm not telling you that joining clubs is bad because it's not. It's a great way to meet new people, but it's not necessarily important. If you're someone like me who needs to focus on school work because you have a fear of falling behind, I suggest you find one club you're really interested in and join it but don't worry about joining a ton. Only take on what you can handle.
   

That's all the tips I can think of for now, but I'm sure there are more to come. Like I said, it's only been a month of college for me. If there are high school seniors, or even juniors, reading this, follow this blog because I'll be sure to put up some more useful information for you. It's not adults telling you what's best, it's someone a little older than you who has recently gone through what you've gone through and is going through what you're going to go through if you choose college. If you ask me, and I suppose this is bias, but that's the best way to learn, by asking someone else about their experiences.