<p>Some of you may remember me. I applied last year, part of the class of '04, to a bunch of schools all over the country. I was accepted to many, waitlisted at a few, and ultimately ended up at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I posted several threads on the old boards at CC dealing with my financial and personal issues with attending many of the schoools. You thought I would fade into oblivion, didn't you? Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated - especially by engineering homework :).</p>
<p>Although it may be a little too early for me to become an old cranky geezer at the age of 18, when I created this thread, I thought I had something wise (not really) and deep (not so much) to share. Well, maybe you don't think so, but I'm here and I'm going to tell it anyway. Here it is:</p>
<p>I had a problem when I applied to schools that is common to many, many of us. I needed money to attend a good private school. When the acceptances started coming in, I had my heart set on one school, a very prestigious one (which is a load of hooey if you ask me). And, joy of joys, they accepted me! But alas, the money was not forthcoming in the quantities I needed, and after much deliberation, consultation with everyone from my parents to my counselors to CC to my psychic (just kidding about the last one!), I decided to go where the money was - here at Vandy, which I am proud to call my university. And here I am, a year out, when acceptances are starting to come on the table and the stress of admissions is starting to be replaced by another, even greater stress, the stress of decision.</p>
<p>I am here to tell you that, in my case, the extra $100,000 or so was better not spent. I have flourished at the university, taking part in activities ranging from teaching middle schoolers science to expanding my horizons with public lectures on whatever strikes my interest to becoming more of an activist to really just being free for the first time in my life (and so older folks tell me, the last). A lot of this peace of mind and joy comes from not having to have a job, from not having to be constantly worried about loan payments, and from not straining beyond the breaking point my parents' and my resources.</p>
<p>Many people forget this when they are deciding between schools. I know I did. Let me tell you something. On Sunday night, when your laundry basket is overflowing, you've got a paper to write by the next day and a test the next, and you're stressed beyond belief, you don't CARE what your school's name is. If that's all that's stopping you, or some image of the school created by your classmates or the admissions office when you go for your cursory hours-long or day-long visit, you're on the wrong track in picking schools. As I go along, I care less and less about these superficial issues, and more and more about the education I'm receiving. Let me tell you about something I found out about.</p>
<p>I enrolled in an abstract algebra course this semester. It's extremely challenging - entirely proof based with problems to match. On the first problem set we had to prove one part of the Continuum Hypothesis, one of the deepest problems in modern mathematics (the rest of which is undecideable, as I'm sure the mathematically inclined here are aware). I spent 5 hours on that problem and didn't solve it. I was frustrated. So was the rest of the class. But slowly, as I improved, the teacher began to take notice of me. We began to have regular e-mail correspondance about math. I began reading up on the latest journals, even though I still can't understand most of what goes on (I doubt even professional mathematicians do!). But that's not the point. The point is, this summer, I will probably have a research internship with this professor in two of my major interests - math and computer science. Just like that. Your mileage may vary of course, but the point is, if you are well motivated enough, you will find opportunities at ANY school you attend, let alone the ones just below the very top.</p>
<p>You may ask - well, what about the students? Are there students I match with well intellectually? I mean, their average SAT is 50 points below mine, of course they are not my intellectual equals, right? Let me break your first illusion: No matter where you go, there will be people who just don't get it, just like high school. It'll just be a matter of proportion of who and how many. I've found the greatest group of friends and a girlfriend who I love very much. We enjoy ourselves greatly without alcohol or any of the other vices associated with college students (except staying up late and sleeping late, if that's even a vice (more like an added bonus, I'd say :))). I could go on forever about how infectious everyone's enthusiasm for their hobbies and interests are, but that's a good college experience for you, so get out there and shape your own.</p>
<p>I know everyone's situation is different, and my problems may not be yours. But consider this: a backup or match school isn't just a backup if you don't get in somewhere "more selective" by some arbitrary criterion. It's a living, breathing place with myriad opportunities just waiting for some creative individual like yourself to search out and find. And in the end, if you can save yourself the stress and worry and pain and agony of having the name, you'll find you can make a life for yourself better than it's ever been. I am happy to say that here, I am the happiest I've ever been. And that's all I could ever ask for.</p>
<p>Now that I'm done preaching, you can commence with the booing and hissing. It's 3:00 AM, I should be sleeping instead of writing :(. Please forgive the quality of the writing; I haven't had to put together a coherent paragraph since last semester's philosophy class.</p>