As senior year brings many students closer and closer to the day they will be beginning college, this excitement/anxiety becomes a common source for discussion among the student body. What’s important is to be able to successfully navigate such conversations without tripping over one of the social taboo’s that such conversations entail.
These are the Do’s and Don’ts of the Precollege Process
DO
– Discuss the difficulties of the process of filling apps, anyone applying has to do it, so it’s hard to offend.
– Essay topics are good, it’s a difficult thing to make a decision on, and discussing it with others can help to solidify good ideas, and discard weaker ones
– Possible schools (without too much prying)
DON’T
– Discuss GPA
– SAT scores are a NO-NO
– Never talk poorly about a college. Different colleges are for different people. Just because it isn’t for you doesn’t mean it’s a ‘bad’ school.
– Finances should be avoided.
– Pry for details. School can be a tender subject and asking too much can lead to an verbal or physical duel.
But hey the college process isn’t all that bad. History teacher Mr. Brogna shed some adult wisdom on the subject, and made it seem like it isn’t the nightmare it sometimes appears to be. Here’s what he had to say:
– Don’t sweat it if you don’t have a plan, just feel it out, and learn as you go
– Losing touch with other aspects of your life is a bad thing. If you plan to go, understand the steps you need to take, but stressing to the point that your hair starts to fall out is no good.
– “If you know then go” Although it sounds like it could be a slogan for a sports company it’s some good advice. If you know you love a school research it and take the steps to qualify you for it.
So don’t sweat it. Take a walk, eat bagel, and stop stressing you goof! Know what you should and shouldn’t discuss, so not to offend but other than that take it easy. There’s a school for everyone somewhere.