Princeton University Top Questions

The first step to selecting the right college is to first ask yourself what you want out of your experience: from abundant research opportunities to making life-long friends, these primary guidelines in the selection process enable you to identify the college that best suits your interests and needs. The second step is get a taste of the said college of interest, not by necessarily looking up a biography or profile on a website but rather by visiting the college or talking to a current student. This more personal interaction in the college selection process truly benefits you as it will mirror what you would experience if you selected that institute of higher education. In order to make the most of your time while in college, always remember that it is a period for exploration and fun: work hard, follow your interests, and don?t be afraid to make mistakes. The feeling of independence upon entering college will shape and guide you along your journey, and living every day in fear will only limit your potential.

Finding the right college is like finding a lover: Yes, there are hundreds of fish in the sea. But is there only one "perfect" match? Or are there many potential matches? When I was applying to colleges, I was trying to decide between Princeton, Stanford, and USC. I chose Princeton in the end, but was that really so much better than Stanford? Or Georgetown? Or USC? They all have their own personalities, their own pros and cons, but in the end I chose Princeton because I thought it would provide me with a new life experience: the opprotunity to live on a new coast, see another side of the country, immerse myself in a different culture. I could have easily been happy at any of the others, and successful as well. This is how you must look at college: there is no "perfect" college. You define your own college experience. At first--especially if you go away to school--it can be hard to realize that you will find your place, your niche. There is a place for you at the school you choose, and there are people who you will connect with.

College is a very important part of one's life and truly is a time of personal growth. With that being said, from personal experience, I believe picking a school where you're most comfortable and feel at home is one of the most important deciding factors. Visiting a prospective school, interacting with current students, or even sitting in on a lecture are all great ways to discover how comfortable you feel. Although it is tempting to pick a school based on academic or athletic prestige, picking a school solely on these aspects is a bad idea for more than one reason. After all, I truly believe that not only should the prospective student pick the school based on the level of comfort the feel from the campus and surroundings but more importantly from the sense of a special feeling that ignites for the first time when you step on campus, feel as though you belong, and as though they too have something to give back to the school and community from their upcoming college experience!

The most important thing to keep in mind is that wherever you end up, your happiness or misery is up to you. College is what you make of it. A bright student can excel academically as much at a state school as at an ivy league university, and an outgoing person can find a great group of friends at a large or small college. With that in mind, find places that match your personality and interests. The most fun part of the process is when you get excited about a college that really turns you on. At the same time, you need to stay detached enough not to become too invested in any one school before being accepted -- the environment is simply too competitive, and it's devastating to find yourself rejected by a "dream school". The best approach is to find several schools at which you could see yourself and apply to them all. It's natural to have a favorite, but managing expectations to suit the difficult reality of the process will keep you sane while your friends ride the emotional roller coaster. Do your research, and relax -- you're about to have the time of your life.

Everyone finds their niche and the right school. You'll end up where you're supposed to be. Don't stress it. As for college itself, embrace every opportunity. All the time.

Marissa talks about other schools she applied to (besides Princeton). She also gives advice to high-school students.

During the college selection process I learned that I was missing a very important piece of advice: liking the "idea" of something is very different than being able to realistically picture it fitting with who you are as a person. I applied to seven colleges. Looking back, only 2 of those colleges (one of which I attend) actually fit with what I needed in a university, even though the others that didn't "fit" were highly ranked by USA Today. When decisions came, I was devastated after receiving my first letters that began with "We are sorry to inform you..." I was so upset that I didn't want to open any more mail that month. Luckily, my parents convinced me otherwise and I found out that I was admitted to other schools, like Princeton where I now attend. Reflecting back, I realized that the schools where I was not admitted did not have what I was looking for (as far as extra-curriculars, campus setting, and matching my personality). I liked the "idea" of attending these schools, but it was not realistic. Sometimes rejections are painful, but for the best---allowing us instead to find our "true home" elsewhere.