Searching for College

My hand shakes, my body tightens, I hear the laughter of my siblings in the living room and the sharp stench of garlic, onions and beans boiling on the stove reaches my nose. Click. The button has been pressed. The college application has been sent in. Now all there is for me to do is wait.

When I was looking for a college I wanted a small, liberal, science-loving school that would give me all the tools I needed for success. I needed a school that fit me like homeschooling had, a college without grades to hold me in and somewhere that did not treat me like “just a number”. The school I was searching for would let me explore diverse disciplines, love learning and mold into a more confident, loving version of myself. It was important that this college was into sustainable living, renewable energy and focused on their community. Since I was a child I had always been respected, loved and grounded at Wilderness Awareness School and I needed those in my choice college as well.

With all the criteria I listed above, I had no idea how to start looking for a school. My head started to cloud, I became overwhelmed, and I tried the best to stay away from the college subject because I did not know how to progress. It’s not like I could just Google the answer. Soon I started to assume that I would have to choose one or two of my requirements for a college instead of being completely satisfied. That is when my mother announced that we were taking a college-searching trip to Boston.

We had seven days and seven schools: Amherst, Brown, Boston, Hampshire, Trinity, Tufts and Bard. The other schools were good, but the second I stepped onto Hampshire College’s campus my whole perception of what college could be changed. In one second all of my criteria were passed and possibilities for college that I never imagined were suddenly there. Hampshire had a five college consortium meaning I could take unlimited classes at the four other colleges, and I could use all their resources. The school focused on active learning, and questioning. It had planetariums and observatories for Astronomy study, farms and animals for biology and botany, miles of hiking trails, an accepting community, hands-on classes... I could go on forever. Finally I could see myself on a college campus. I could imagine myself going to classes and clubs, having a part time job, and hanging out with my friends in the rec center. That’s when I knew that Hampshire College was the college I needed to get into.

The moment I got back from my trip to Boston, I asked my teachers and mentors for recommendation letters. Then I started on the essays. It took me a day to write my admission essays, but it took me four months to revise them. All of my english teachers saw them, my bosses, my mentors, my parents, my classmates and my friends. They were all so kind, and they helped as best they could. Everyone had something to say, and every time they helped my essays got better. By the end, I was running out of people to ask feedback from.

Soon the Early Decision deadline came. I was ready. Turning in my college application was easy compared to the torturous wait of wondering if I got accepted. On December 10th the college will notify me of their decision. Let’s wait and see!