<p>Hello seniors and everyone who was once or soon will be one! We all know how crazy the experience of high school is, but in what ways is college the same? I ask this because I was recently accepted into one of my top choices...but there was one huge contingency...if I go, I will have to start in January of 2009. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me (I applied for the Fall semester, their admissions process admits most students during ED/EA..which I obviously didn't know then). Anywho, I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I should do because I have been accepted to other schools but this one is the one I want to go to the most by far. I don't know what I would even do for the Fall 2008 semester...take courses at another school? that just seems cruel. I don't want to make friends and then have to say goodbye...</p>
<p>I guess what I keep coming back to is, how alike is high school and college in social situations? For me, high school was SO important for making friends that I still have today...I would think college (especially since mine is out of state) is the same...am I wrong? </p>
<p>If anyone has anything to say I would very much appreciate it. I am visiting the school and meeting with some counselors over spring break next week, but I want to have good questions prepared. </p>
<p>You will miss out on the fall excitement of all being freshmen, at college for the first time. And yes, friendships will form during the fall. However, if your school is reasonably large, you will have plenty of opportunities to make friends starting in January. If you like the school, go.</p>
<p>I agree with the advice to go in january, and would add, make the most of your semester off. That means working (look into internships that will add to your resume), traveling (cheap fares to Europe in September!) or getting some preliminary classes out of the way, especially if you are weak in a certain area.</p>
<p>What might help is participating in Frat/Sorority recruitment if your school offers it in the winter. Even if greek life isn't your thing (i know it isn't mine) it will give you a chance to meet a lot of people who will be "newbies" all over again.</p>
<p>If you really do want to go to that college then do so. Enroll at a CC for the semester and take intro classes (MAKE SURE YOUR COLLEGE WILL COUNT THEM FIRST THOUGH.) You could also do the internship or travel thing, but if I were in your situation I'd try to knock out some easy classes first so I wasn't stuck at college an extra semester.</p>
<p>I think you would be fine if you went second semester…you’d still make friends through your hall, clubs, etc. A lot of people who make friends in the first month or two end up with different friends by the end of the year anyway (this is not true in all cases, but enough so that you should be able to fit right in anyway). If you’re really worried about coming in a semester late, have you considered taking the whole year off and then going in Fall ’09? That way, you’d be starting out at the same time as everyone else that year. </p>
<p>Either way, I suggest finding something cool to do with your time off, like, as others have said, traveling, an internship, an interesting job, etc.</p>
<p>I don't understand the idea or pitched proposal of an internship...how would I get that? It needs to be organized through the University, of which I wouldn't technically belong to. Also, I took mostly IB/AP classes in high school and therefore doubt that I'd still need too many intro courses...I don't know it's all such a mess.</p>
<p>An internship doesn't need to be organized through the University. It wouldn't be for credit or anything, rather it would be a good a experiance and a good thing to put on your resume. If you need help finding organizations your highschool might be able to help, and, in fact, your future college might too, if you ask, since they're the reason you'd need such a thing.</p>
<p>Of course, depending on your financial situation, it might make more sense to just get a real job and make some money. That would also be good experiance, with the added benifit of money.</p>
<p>You could also do volenteer work. Or, as others have suggested, travel. It all depends on your interests and finacial situation.</p>