<p>I'm one of those people who had a goal school ever since I was 8 years old, never even considered actually going elsewhere, then mid-way through my junior year decided this school wasn't my top choice anymore. I figure this happens often, because most people don't get into the really in-depth college research until about that time. Post Your story on this thread!</p>
<p>Here's mine:
8 years of wanting to go to UCLA and major in film. Ended up switching my top choice to their competitor, USC, because I didn't want to risk going to UCLA for 2 years and not get in for film production (jr admission only)</p>
<p>I wanted to go to Columbia for a few years but switched because I realized I didn't ACTUALLY want to be in New York City and also that Columbia has an intense core that focuses basically on all my weaknesses.</p>
<p>I wanted to go to Dartmouth for the longest time, not quite sure why...north, snow, rural, and keggy :) But then I found out that alot of colleges are better at engineering than Dmouth, so I changed priorities to top engineering schools. Ended up picking almost the exact opposite...south, heat, urban, and when I asked some of the kids if they wanted to party they all were like "LAN party?" But im happy with my choice</p>
<p>That is why you should go out and look at a few schools. Try them on. We made sure our kids looked at a big, medium and small college. Sometimes what you originally were in love with won't be the same after looking around a bit. An informed choice is always a better choice.</p>
<p>yea but sometimes preferances change...I know kids that visited colleges their frosh year of hs and they're hating college right now...summer before senior year would be perfect to visit and such, thats when I did and thats when I found out my prefs for a college made a 180</p>
<p>i really wanted to go to this good college in 1 state, then i moved and realized that i should move to a completely different place, not go back.</p>
<p>I wanted to go to Brown forever, but chose Dartmouth as a transfer instead (after much deliberation!) I thought it would be a better place to assimilate into, and it largely was an amazingly hospitable transfer environment.</p>
<p>"when I asked some of the kids if they wanted to party they all were like "LAN party?" But im happy with my choice"</p>
<p>that's awesome... what school are you talking about? emory?</p>
<p>i think the poster is describing georgia tech. it is one of the best engineering schools.</p>
<p>After leaving the summer program, Cornell became my top choice no doubt. Midway through junior year, I discovered the major, location, and ECs of my dreams offered at Stanford.</p>
<p>Honestly? I want to go to Georgetown. But I know I can't get in. So while GU is still a school I would love to, I'm slowly settling into some other, more realistic ambitions.</p>
<p>^^^Same exact situation as me!</p>
<p>I always wanted to go to Harvard.</p>
<p>Then I realized that I couldn't get in. But there are lots of great schools that I was able to get into...though unfortunately, none of them are very close to Fenway and the Sox.</p>
<p>I wanted to go to MIT for quiet awhile, and recently i realized that i'm too darn stupid to get in at MIT</p>
<p>hahhha..i wanted to get into a school that existed in china(oxford,cambridge,yale,harvard,stanford)but then right here at Harvard, I found out LACS are more "me".</p>
<p>I'm from NJ, and when I was little I wanted to go to Princeton. I still think it's one of the most beautiful campuses and has the ideal college town (not considering cities). But my reason when I was little was this: great and pretty school, and I could live at home and take the train! I think it's hilarious now. And cute. But I still want a friend to go so I have an excuse to go to the Princeton Record Exchange and this awesome ice cream place, The Bent Spoon.</p>
<p>Many years later, my #1 became Columbia. And then about a year ago, I discovered UChicago, and I just keep discovering more reasons why it's the perfect school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I always wanted to go to Harvard.</p>
<p>Then I realized that I couldn't get in. But there are lots of great schools that I was able to get into...though unfortunately, none of them are very close to Fenway and the Sox.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Doesn't Boston have the most colleges of any city? Harvard, BU, BC, Tufts, Emerson...</p>
<p>For about all of my junior year and up to my senior year I was really big on Harvey Mudd. You know, typical nerds who enjoy learning and are especially interested in math and science. But then while I was waiting to hear from them, all of the sudden I realized, wow :eek: they're really far away and there's no way I would be able to cope with the distance, so then I thought that MIT was for me, but then I visited and just felt that the environment wasn't right for me, and so I gave up there, but luckily I ended up going to a college I knew I would be comfortable at.</p>
<p>So (bringing it down a level from all the ivy and ivy-wannabes), my first choice when I was little was University of Wisconsin - Madison...once a badger, always a badger. :) </p>
<p>But I also grew up auditioning for things in their music facilities; which are crappy, as is their music program. So, my first choice became Lawrence University - well known for a good music program, and a double-degree program.</p>
<p>Then I decided I wanted to do music therapy...which they didn't offer at Lawrence. They did, however, offer it at U of Minnesota - Twin Cities. So, I did a ton of research, went and visited, and fell in LOVE with the city and the school. Wisconsin residents also get in at UW tuition - meaning we get it cheaper than Minnesota residents! :)</p>
<p>So, yeah. Underachieving? Perhaps. Somehow I will recover. I love the school, and that is all that matters.</p>
<p>My top choice school changed when I was rejected.</p>