<p>Hey everyone, I'm applying RD to Penn, and it's one of my top choice schools. I'm super excited to go, and everyone says that it will be the best years of my life....part me is kind of nervous that I'm getting my hopes up too high...and then I came across this article while looking through Penn's newspaper:</p>
<p>The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Robert Hsu | Loving and hating the college experience</p>
<p>Understand that this worry is very typical. More kids than you realize go through it. College is, as Hsu found, a time for some to learn more about themselves, sometimes struggle- but learn and make the adjustments.</p>
<p>Then you’ll die a painful, prolonged death?</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>I’m not sure what kind of answer you’re expecting here. But, if you’re fortunate enough to get into Penn or somewhere else that is equally spectacular, then just enjoy it and recognize how lucky you are to have wound up at a place like that. </p>
<p>I settled for my state school for my undergraduate degree on account of finances. I haven’t really enjoyed my experience, mainly because I don’t think the quality of education I received was worth a shlt. And, my ambition has always led me to being discontent with just settling for a mediocre state school. </p>
<p>Then again, I can’t complain too much. I have 0 debt, maintained my relationship with my high school sweetheart to this day, and just got into Penn for grad school. </p>
<p>Ultimately, there has been a mixture of good and bad, but I suppose the point of my anecdote is that you can still make the best of it even if you feel you made a mistake. </p>
<p>Additionally, you always have the opportunity to transfer after a year or two if you realized you made a mistake. However, nobody plans on transferring…so the only thing you can do to mitigate the risk of unhappiness as much you can is to identify the school that is most in line with your goals, preferences, and values. </p>
<p>I’m sure you’re a strong candidate, so you’ll likely have the chance to pick among a lot of great schools. That being said, don’t just pick a school off name alone. Really make sure you’re picking the school that is right for you. To hell with the name. </p>
<p>I’m having to do the same thing right now when it comes to graduate school between BC and Penn. It’s not as though BC is anything to scoff at, but clearly Penn is the bigger name. However, I really want to make my decision based off the cities, the campuses, the programs themselves, and the faculty. I’ll admit that it’d be hard to turn down a school like Penn, but I know I’ll make the right decision when I really evaluate the aforementioned criteria upon visiting in January or March. </p>
<p>I hope you do the same, as that is really the ONLY way to mitigate the risk of putting yourself at the wrong school. Even then, you might still run into some difficulties or a major change that makes you question your original decision. That is to say, you can mitigate the risk to some extent but not entirely.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way, you’ll be much happier at a school like Penn or some other top school if you go into it knowing that you’re not going to be a perfect, straight A student anymore. </p>
<p>I’m not suggesting that this foresight should lead you to slacking off or anything like that. However, tempering expectations ever so slightly will allow you to not be too hard on yourself and be OK with a B or even a C at an Ivy.</p>
<p>I mean, it’s going to happen. You’re going to have plenty of difficult professors and the odds are that you’ll bomb a handful of tests along the way. But, this is good, as real life is exactly the same way. How are you going to bounce back after a disappointing grade?</p>
<p>If you realize it’s just going to happen along the way, you should be able to take those struggles and failures in stride better than you otherwise would. You must shrug it off and keep on pushing. Keep on working. </p>
<p>I liken it to a quarterback. Every QB, even the greats like Manning, Brady, Rodgers, and Brees, throw their share of interceptions. But, they always shrug it off and usually bounce back to lead their team to victory. The same thing applies to your academics.</p>
<p>I think if you understand that mistakes will be made, you’ll be happier because you realize that the next test, quiz, or paper is just another opportunity for you to make up for that one **** up. You can still be consistent in spite of those **** ups, so long as you do your best to keep them to a minimum. I suppose those are my greatest words of wisdom that I can presently provide, lol.</p>
<p>after nso i guarantee the worries go away.</p>
<p>leftwichqb7:</p>
<p>Great posts!</p>
<p>Thanks, Gtb! </p>
<p>I hope the OP got something from them.</p>
<p>College is a time of learning (both academic and social) and personal growth. A lot of people have a hard time making the transition from high school. </p>
<p>It appears that Hsu is still struggling, even into his sophomore year:</p>
<p>[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Robert Hsu | Surviving the sophomore slump](<a href=“http://■■■■■■/22LCS]The”>Robert Hsu | Surviving the sophomore slump | The Daily Pennsylvanian)</p>
<p>Life in general can be a bit of a struggle. We all think that everything will be great once we achieve that “next goal” whether it’s getting in to a good college, then getting our dream job or getting into grad school. But life in some sense is a series of “nexts.” You just need to have that perspective that as your transition through difference phases of your life things will be more challenging than you thought. But if you relax and enjoy the journey, more than anticipating the destination, you’ll have a great ride :)</p>
<p>College is school but you have more independence than you ever had. College will be what you make of it because you are in control of your experience of it.</p>
<p>Some kids crack in this situation, some thrive in it, some just do ok and don’t realize the potential they had until years later.</p>
<p>College is unstructured so just look at yourself. How are you at meeting new people, joining groups, doing your work, keeping out of trouble and getting along with others when there is nobody facilitating theses things but you?</p>