<p>I don't know what's wrong with me...maybe it's just a phase, but all the sudden I feel completely disinterested in every school I look at. None of them feel right. Even schools I was once in love with now seem wrong. </p>
<p>I don't know how to handle this. I've been obsessed with college for as long as I can remember, but now that I actually need to finalize my list, I'm finding myself in this mess.</p>
<p>Have any of your kids went through this? And if so, how did they go about handling it? I really want to find a few colleges that feel right, and it's frustrating that I can't. I realize that this is probably a phase, and that there's probably no sure-fire answer you guys can give me, but any advice would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>I think this is a common feeling at this time in your life. Deciding on a college is such a monumental decision, it's no wonder you are feeling overwhelmed and short circuiting. My son went through the same feelings at various junctures in the college decision making process, after deciding and even after attending. It's so hard to know which college is really the perfect fit.</p>
<p>The thing that I told him and keep telling him is that nothing is set in stone. There is always the ability to transfer if you are unhappy or feel the college you chose is not the right fit.</p>
<p>Have you visitied the schools you are considering? Have you looked at various online resources to get a sense of what opinions students have that are attending these schools? You can check out
<a href="http://www.princetonreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.princetonreview.com</a> and see what student say. Also <a href="http://www.studentsreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.studentsreview.com</a> and look at students comments. I think these websites are helpful along with CC. Have you checked the individual forums on this site for each school? Asked questions that are on your mind?</p>
<p>The fact that you have been obsessed with colleges for so long and things are finally becoming a reality might be freaking you out. Try and take a time out and come back after a rest with a renewed attitude and interest. Maybe you could take a short vacation to get away for a while to get a new perspective.</p>
<p>I think it might help to look at it without any superlatives. By which I mean that there is not one perfect fit. It is not the most important decision of your life. It is not monumental.</p>
<p>I don't mean it isn't important. But there are many good choices for any individual student. All you need to do is find <em>some</em> schools that fit what you're seeking. Not the flawless perfect fit. Even schools which you were once in love with will have pluses and minuses.</p>
<p>It's June. You do not really NEED to be thinking about college at all right now. Have some fun, hang with your friends, make some money this summer, go to the beach, live for today. Really - you might be over analyzing the whole thing. Chill.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I think you guys are right - I really do need to take a break. I think I've been stressed about this for a little bit too long. Coming back with a clear mind (sans frustration) should help, as well as the realization that no place is perfect. </p>
<p>CC must be a bad influence on me. Especially when half the people on here have a list of 15 "dream schools" that they're completely in love with. ;)</p>
<p>My D was not the type who could fall in love with any school when visiting and applying. She researched colleges that fit her needs academically and geographically and seemed to have the right social mix--no party schools or frat-football scenes for her. In the end, she found a few campuses where she thought she could stand to be and where she could feel OK about the other students and find courses to fit her interests. She applied ED to the reach school that was close to a reach-match--not a big stretch. She was accepted and has now completed freshman year with good grades, reasonable satisfaction and the sense that she made a good choice (if not the best of all possible worlds). She's OK with that and looking forward to sophomore year.</p>
<p>My advice --find several "good enough" colleges with good courses in your fields of interest and a social mix you can feel comfortable with. Include some reasonable reaches and matches as well as a couple of safeties. Once you've been accepted at a few places--check out the best financial deals and visit again before your final decision. Sometimes being chosen and welcomed by a college makes you feel more like "reciprocating their affection" for you.</p>
<p>Hey world---nothing is ever perfect. DId anybody stress about how your elementary or high school needed to be the perfect match and deliver a perfect experience? Nothing will ever meet all of your needs all of the time. The question to ask yourself is whether you could see yourself doing well and digging into the classes; the rest will happen on its own.</p>
<p>Take it from a person who had three choices..being community college, huge commuter school and huge 4 year state flagship. I LOVED every minute of college (huge flagship) because it had everything anybody needed--geeks found geeks, jocks were happy, frat boys found each other...classes were stimulating and almost entirely free of busywork....vegans had their own community. I knew I wanted a residential campus; after that everything else is details.</p>