Hi! Nearly for 2 weeks now, I have these several questions: did you feel that click/drive/excitement with your top choice / top match school?
Currently, I am an international high school junior, who is doing an exchange year in America. During my sophomore year, I was all obsessed with the Ivy League schools and other top private institutions. I thought I was ready to apply to all of these top 20+ (which now I think is truly crazy unless, of course, you have an unlimited amount of time and ready to commit to all of them).
Here is the deal, a month ago I visited these schools in the following order: Harvard, MIT, Duke.
Like I said, last year I was ready to apply to Harvard, however, when I first stepped on campus, sat at the info session, and did all that good stuff – nothing came; I don’t think that it was a right for me.
Within the next few hours, I went to MIT, and let me tell you this, I fell in love!! Everything–people, campus, motto, core values and beliefs–spoke to me. I definitely think that is 99.9999% match (the rest of it will be just luck :D). 3 days after my first visit and tour, I decided to come back and sit in class, talk to students, professor, and admissions office – and there it was again, that spark has never left. I was so truly happy just to be there no matter what.
About a week ago, I went to visit Duke. Oh man, the campus was beautiful, but I also didn’t feel that connection with the school.
Did you all feel the same when you understood that the college X was the exact place you wanted to be part of? Or I just overthought too much and now trying to convince myself?
Sometimes it scares me, because now I just can’t see myself applying anywhere else but there; I just know that I won’t be as happy and as fitted in the environment. Although I’m applying EA for the class of 2023, I also know that I have to consider safety schools and maybe other 3-4 top schools.
Where else would you recommend me to look?
If it helps any, I intend to major in math and/or business (actuarial or data science). After my undergrad, I’m planning to pursue an MBA degree as well. (As a possible future career, I’m considering being a business analyst + entrepreneurship).
I have a pretty decent background – EC’s, International Olympiad, some math awards, and leadership positions. The only things I should work on are my SAT’s – they are, frankly, not high enough for colleges like that – and, of course, the essays.