Can't help but feel as though I'm making mistakes..

College Search & Selection
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<p>I hope this is the right section for this thread; I can't think of where else to put it.</p>

<p>Okay, so basically there are two very big decisions that I'm going through right now, and I suspect that I'm not choosing the best things that I can. The first decision is choosing a college. I'm (almost) enrolled to go to the Ohio State University (I'm a HS senior right now) and I just don't feel comfortable with it. I mean, when I went to go make an official tour, the campus and all looked pretty good -- but when I went down there to visit on my own accord, it just all seemed.. "meh," for lack of better words. OSU is also very big, and I'm not sure if I like that or not.. The thing is, I just don't really have any other alternatives: I decided not to go to Case Western after doing an overnight stay there and thinking that it was dry (in the sense of atmosphere) and boring (it was also more expensive, anyway). Another thing is that I know several people who go there. While I consider myself good friends with most of them, I want to go somewhere where I know no one; I feel as though college is one of the only times left to start off anew..</p>

<p>A few weeks ago, I went to go visit another college that I've been accepted into but did not give much thought: the College of Wooster. Let me tell you, I loved it there! Everyone was so friendly, and when I went to go sit in a one of the classes, the professor invited me to go eat lunch with her and a bunch of other professors and students! (And, based on the students' appearances and conversations, this seems like a normal occurrence.) I just love the personalized feel to this college. My main problem with it, and why I'm not choosing it, is because of my major (which CoW doesn't have).. And this segues into my next big decision:</p>

<p>I'm majoring in something called Engineering Physics.. Originally, about a year ago, I was certain that physics was my passion and that I loved to learn about the universe. While this is still true to an extent, I have begun to realize much more than this. I don't know if this makes sense, but I've come to appreciate many new things.. For instance, I can see why people (in general) choose to major in theater after seeing my school's musical. I can understand why people decide to major in music after listening to certain songs.. I feel as though it's too late for me to major in something music-related because most people who do have been working on that since they were like five. On the other hand, this is my first year (senior year) taking a physics class (we don't offer AP Physics, so it's only algebra-based), and it just doesn't seem like I thought it was. It appears to be more math and plugging in numbers that it does about learning the nature of everything.. I keep telling myself that this is HS physics and that the basics are supposed to be this boring and things will get better... But I am just not sure. </p>

<p>Another thing is that when I look around at other engineers, their main reason for choosing their major seemed to revolve around money.. I don't want to be like that at all!! I would much rather make $50k a year doing something I love than to make $120k doing something I don't. The problem is that I just don't know what I love anymore.. I have too many interests! Anyway, the other day, I told my father (a mechanical engineer) about this one kid I know who is majoring in music education, and he made some "witty" remark about how that kid will wish to have majored in something to earn him more money.. Let me tell you, that was so aggravating!! I mean, I love my parents and all, but I don't want to live like they do when I'm older.. I won't go into detail about that, but I feel as though they live a very sheltered and boring life.. I want to be traveling the world and having the time of my life all the time, not just during a week in the summer..</p>

<p>So yeah, I'm just facing issues about college and careers.. Not like any of that is life-changing, right? ;)</p>

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<p>Honestly, if you fell in love with the College of Wooster, I’d go there. They have a physics major, and you can focus more specifically on “engineering physics” in graduate school. There’s also a good chance you end up changing majors anyway - you’re still exploring!</p>

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<p>Well, in reality… yeah, that just doesn’t happen for very many people. There are a fair number of jobs where you get to travel a lot… but when you do have a job like that, you’re not “having the time of your life all the time.” Trust me, I’ve been a US Platinum Preferred, United 1K, Alaska MVP Gold and all those other shiny cards that come with flying umpteen squillion miles a year. Along with the trips to Daytona Beach and Mexico City, you get to see garden spots like Mansfield, Ohio and Des Moines, Iowa. And most of the time, all you see of those places are the airports, restaurants and hotels anyway. Business travel is just that - business.</p>

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<p>You need to speak with my daughter…she is struggling between Ohio State and Kenyon. She is also kind of undecided like you. She is interested in linguistics ( which Kenyon doesn’t have) but feels she may become lost at OSU. She has decided to go to Kenyon because she likes the small classes, the campus and the kids she has met that are attending next year. We came to the conclusion that Ohio State is always going to be there but Kenyon will not. If she absolutely hates Kenyon, she can transfer to OSU but the reverse isn’t true.</p>

<p>If it helps, my mom graduated from Wooster and my cousin will graduate this year. Wooster is an awesome school and if you felt that kind of connection to it I think that is where you belong. Good luck. And whatever you decide, you will get a fantastic education.</p>

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<p>I think mspearl’s advice is good. Go to Wooster. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can always transfer to OSU a year or two later. And yes, deciding to do an engineering physics major based on the level of experience you have is probably premature. You can explore physics - see if you really like it - while checking into other options. You can also double major (physics and music?) Many, if not most, students change their majors and sometimes multiple times. You don’t actually have to declare until the end of your sophomore year. Just make sure you take the pre-reqs for whatever you think you might want to major in.</p>

<p>Also, College of Wooster, like many LACs, offers a 3/2 that lets you study there for 3 years before transferring to a well respected school to complete your last two years in engineering if that’s what you really still want to do: [Pre-Engineering</a> - College of Wooster](<a href=“http://www.wooster.edu/Academics/Areas-of-Study/Pre-Engineering-Program]Pre-Engineering”>http://www.wooster.edu/Academics/Areas-of-Study/Pre-Engineering-Program)</p>

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<p>Sounds like you really want to go to Wooster. Go for it! You can do Engineering Physics in grad school if you are still interested. I suspect, though, that your world is about to expand in wonderful and unforeseen ways.</p>

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<p>" I feel as though it’s too late for me to major in something music-related because most people who do have been working on that since they were like five."</p>

<p>Music performance maybe, sound engineering/design/production maybe not. Lots of physics types end up operating sound boards, creating the designs for sound systems, and wiring all of those things together.</p>

<p>Nowhere in your discussion of these three schools do you mention your costs. Are they essentially the same, or is your family set up to pay for any of them equally? If not, run the numbers here: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid) One or more of them might be eliminated on a cost basis alone.</p>

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<p>Does Wooster participate in any of the engineering 3-2 programs?</p>