<p>After a lot of thinking, praying, and pacing, I've decided to go with CMU after all. I fell in love with the campus when I visited, and talking to several current students convinced me that CMU will offer more of what I'm looking for both academically and musically. I know I'm setting myself up for a challenging 5 years, but I thrive on stress. It's difficult to turn down St. Olaf, because they've been so kind and I can tell they really want me to come. But I believe that CMU will be the better fit. Hopefully I'll be able to look back on my experience and say that it was worth the added expense.</p>
<p>Forget that. My parents just got the angriest I've ever seen them. I called CMU and they've canceled my enrollment, thank goodness. I guess I've got to go to St. Olaf if I don't want my parents to cast me out of the family.</p>
<p>I'm so sorry, bachlover. That's so hard when you have finally made a decision and have it shot down. I know you must be very disappointed. Hang in there, though. You did have lots of good things to say about St. Olaf earlier, and I'm sure it can be a terrific experience, too. My thoughts and prayers are with you.</p>
<p>After we calmed down, my parents told me that they weren't ruling out CMU for certain; they just want more time to be able to carefully examine the financial situation to see exactly how we would be able to pay for college. Even St. Olaf would still require us to take out a substantial loan, which my parents are understandably concerned about. I really hope this financial situation can be resolved soon, because with this, trying to study for AP tests, acting in a play which opens tonight, and trying to keep up my piano practice for some recitals next month, my stress level is currently going through the roof.</p>
<p>I probably should have applied to some in-state public university.</p>
<p>Have you really already withdrawn your application from CMU? If so.......</p>
<p>Good luck with all of this. It is a stressful time, but once it is decided, you can enjoy these culminating experiences at your high school. It will all work out fine, just give it your best.</p>
<p>No, I have not yet withdrawn my CMU application. I still hold out hope that some miracle will happen.</p>
<p>Apparently St. Olaf really wants me. I've gotten phonecalls/e-mails from 4 piano teachers, 1 composition teacher (after I mentioned I was interested in studying composition), and 2 students. It's very nice to be wanted somewhere after so many rejections. All this recruiting does make me slightly worried that I'd be a big fish in St. Olaf's pond, which I'm not sure would be the best environment for my musical growth. But I do really like the faculty there. If only I wasn't so attracted by CMU...</p>
<p>Anyway, I've decided that I'll make the decision on May 1. Yes, it's the deadline, but it gives me some days to stop stressing out about the decision like I have been. We'll see how things turn out.</p>
<p>Bachlover, Nothing like being wanted. I tend to disagree with folks who think that going to "certain" schools will not challenge you enough. Your challenges will be totally up to you. In the music world, you don't have to be on the court. You can collaborate. Amazing! Expecially in composition. You have to collaborate. Also, at St. Olaf you can explore. I wish you the best in however it goes for you.</p>
<p>Bachlover, I read in a recent Wall Street Journal article that CMU is one of many schools who are interested in knowing what scholarship offers an accepted student has received from other colleges, and will sometimes match the aid offered in the hope of increasing their "yield" (per centage of accepted students that decided to attend). I suggest you call CMU and explain your situation. What do you have to lose?</p>
<p>Well, the decision has finally been made. I'm going to CMU.</p>
<p>My parents and I had a long talk yesterday afternoon... and yesterday night... and this morning... and this afternoon. With stretches on both their part and my part, I believe that we will almost be able to afford CMU. I kept hoping that somebody would waltz in and say, "Sorry, your CMU acceptance has been revoked. You've got to go to St. Olaf now." But that did not happen. And - after much, much prayer, thought, and conferring with trusted adults, I had to go with my gut feeling.</p>
<p>I can't believe I'm doing this. St. Olaf was the safe choice, the rational choice. It's a good college, and the piano faculty really wanted me. I'm not normally that much of a risk taker. CMU is a big risk. But - academically and musically I have taken several risks. I've just never been in a financially risky situation. Now I am. But I am convinced that CMU is the school for me. Not 100% convinced, but enough. And there is still the option of a transfer if things just don't work out, although I probably won't get the kind of scholarships I did from St. Olaf.</p>
<p>I can't believe that my parents are allowing me to do this. I love them to pieces. They've been so good to me. I know they're not entirely at peace with this decision. I can only pray that they will be eventually. I am going to do whatever I can to help them with the financial load. That said - I'm off to work on a scholarship essay. I am happy to have the college decision over with.</p>
<p>bachlover: they are blessed to have such a thoughtful son, what a gift you must be to their lives. Do your very best, work hard, look for the long-term goals, and you can make it happen. You are a fine young person to be so concerned about their feelings about all of this. Good luck to you. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and keep us posted. Lorelei</p>
<p>Congratulations, bachlover! with your determination, I am sure you will do fine. Keep filling out those scholarships--my son was stilling working on those this year as a college freshman (won $500 so far, but we are hoping for more). Look into being an RA as a sophomore, if you think you could handle it--that is a good option for saving money at most colleges.</p>
<p>Look forward to college and relax a bit now and enjoy the rest of high school. Isn't it a relief to have the decision made?</p>
<p>Actually, it's not a relief. I woke up this morning to the biggest second-guessing I've ever done in my life - and I do a lot of it. How can I be giving up all that I am at St. Olaf? Have I just made the worst mistake of my life? Perhaps this is just "buyer's remorse" and I should just let it pass. Perhaps I would be going through the same sort of thing had I chosen St. Olaf. But I'm not sure. I'm thinking of calling St. Olaf in the afternoon, after my AP test this morning, and seeing if by any chance they will still let me enroll with scholarships intact, despite it being past the deadline. Aargh! I wish I wasn't such a conscientious person.</p>
<p>Best advice someone ever gave me -- When making a difficult decision, do it on paper. Every time you start to second guess, pull the paper out to remember WHY you decided what you did. The reality is that you are chosing between two different paths, but there is nothing to say they lead to better or worse destinations - just different scenery along the way.</p>
<p>There are no perfect schools, or perfect fits, or perfect decisions. Sounds like you have two win situations with two very good schools. There is no way to know which will be better and after you graduate there will still be no way to know if you made the best choice.</p>
<p>Just go with you heart and stop second guessing. Since CMU is clearly a better academic situation and that is important to you, it should work out great. If it were just about music, it probably was a coin flip with the more money from St. Olaf throwing it that way.</p>
<p>You made a good choice, stop second guessing yourself and enjoy the fact you are headed to a very good institution.</p>
<p>Bachlover, you are so very fortunate to have parents who are willing to go out on a financial limb for you. Many would not. They obviously believe in you and have faith that your strong feelings for CMU are well-founded. Now that you have made your decision, start moving forward! Don't obsess over what might have been--you will only succeed in driving yourself crazy. Now it's time to learn the CMU song, look through the catalog and start thinking about classes to sign up for, get a map of Pennsylania and highlight Pittsburgh, maybe email the state tourist bureau and get tourist info about the city and state, start listening to bagpipe music, GET EXCITED!!! CMU is a great school!</p>
<p>Well, I called St. Olaf. At first, they said that things were doubtful because they've had more people enroll than ever before (along with a record number of applications), so dorm space was questionable. They said to send the deposit today, so I biked to the post office only to find it closed. But then I called the admissions office, gave my credit card number, and within a few minutes they called back to say that there was space after all. And I won't be losing any of my scholarships. Phew.</p>
<p>This takes the financial load off my mind. My parents told me that funding for CMU would only be available for 1, possibly 2 years, and transferring to Cheap State U after that is not an attractive option. They had concerns about CMU's social life too, not all of which I shared, but this should put their fears to rest. (As well as Mom's fear that I'd give up the music for the math if I went to CMU.) I haven't had any contact outside my audition with the CMU piano teachers, and spending big bucks without making sure that I fit with the teachers is a bad idea. In addition, the St. Olaf piano teacher I talked to said that he's heard that many people transfer out of CMU's School of Music, which is rather concerning. There's a few things I'm sorry about giving up at CMU, but looking at it all I think this is the best choice. Hopefully this ends my college selection drama for good.</p>
<p>Congratulations bachlover! You know in your heart that St. Olaf's is the right place for you. I'm so glad it worked out! :)</p>
<p>Absolutely no THIRD guessing now. We parents won't allow it! :) Congratulations, and maybe my D will meet you at St. Olaf the following year, as it is currently her first choice. I hope you will check back in here next year and tell us how you like it.</p>
<p>Don't forget to withdraw your spot at CMU - you will probably be making some waitlisted kid very happy, even if you lose your deposit.</p>
<p>"As well as Mom's fear that I'd give up the music for the math if I went to CMU"</p>
<p>Your Mom fears that? As much as we all love music, switching to a major where you have a real chance of someday being employed should not put fear into anyone. </p>
<p>I must I admit you have me confused with your real desire as you go back and forth with what you want and where you want to go.</p>
<p>So its St. Olaf's for financial reasons? If so I can appreciate that, money is a factor in most decisions we make in life unless we are Bill Gates. And it certainly looks like it could prevent our daughter from attending the best school for her.</p>
<p>But I am not sure whether you or I are more confused over your decision making process. I would not be surprised if your next post says you decided not to withdraw from CMU and have decided to attend both :)</p>