My top two being Penn State University Park and DePauw University. But alas, how to choose!?
How to earn acceptance to either my first- or second-choice university
How I did it: I worked hard and hoped for the best, and somehow came out of it with scholarships and acceptances! I applied to so many schools because I was not expecting to be accepted to so many of them, and honestly, I didn't even put too much effort into my applications; I wrote my essays once and figured, well, I don't want to go to a school that doesn't like my original thoughts. And I got into nine different schools! Good grief.
Lessons & tips: Start your college search EARLY. My biggest downfall was that I didn't start until the June before my senior year, and ended up rushing and applying to too many because I had no idea where I wanted to be the next year.
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Entries
Accepted to Penn State University Park! Which makes this my number 2, accepted. Goal complete; let’s see if I can get into Bard, Vassar, or DePauw (I have a good feeling about the first and last).
This one is, mostly. I’m still not sure whether I’m going to apply to Eugene Lang or not.
1 – Bard College
2 – Penn State University Park
2 – Vassar College (this would be #1 if it wasn’t a super insane reach)
The rest:
Beloit College
Carnegie Mellon University
DePauw University
Elmira College (accepted)
Goucher College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
SUNY Fredonia (accepted)
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Potsdam (accepted)
SUNY Purchase
This being the summer before my senior year, the decision to finalise my list of prospective universities is one I can hardly dawdle upon. I have mentioned in the past that I am fairly certain of where my applications will be sent out, and those colleges still remain on the list—with a few gems of additions that have been brought up both through conversations with friends and sifting through countless pamphlets and books of materials. Although it will undoubtedly become shorter after visits, here is what should become my final list:
1 – Boston University
1 – Penn State – University Park
1 – Skidmore College
1 – Virginia Commonwealth University
2 – Hampshire College
2 – Oberlin College
2 – University of Virginia
2 – York College of Pennsylvania
3 – Bryn Mawr College
3 – Syracuse University
4 – City University of New York – The City College
Which is good, because I am confused at the moment. Up until recently, I was almost positive I knew where I wanted to go—but I bought a book on colleges a few weeks ago that is really changing my perspective.
Instead of going to a huge school to escape small town syndrome, maybe I want to go to something smaller and more rural? An all-women’s college seems like a good idea, too, although it will probably keep me off of the dating scene for even longer. And I’m still not sure if I want my focus to be liberal arts or science. Ack!
This list will probably be revised again as I look for more schools that suit my needs. No doubt I will bounce back and forth from huge and well-known to small and invisible. Maybe small and invisible would be even better—it’s what I’m used to, at any rate.
So, in no order…
Penn State University
Skidmore College
Oberlin (Double Major Program)
City College of New York
York College
Simmons College
Since I’ve earned acceptance to york, I’ve technically earned acceptance to either my first- or second-choice university.
Now what I want is to be accepted to Towson University, my #1 choice! (although atm York is actually my #1, mostly bc i visited there today though)
from College Park, but it doesn’t really matter. as you can see, it was at the bottom of the list anyway.
1. Penn State University School of Music
2. Skidmore College
3. Oberlin School of Music (Double Major Program)
4. Penn State University Park
5. Penn State Altoona
6. City College of New York
7. Penn State Lehigh
8. SUNY Stony Brook
1. Towson University
2. York College of Pennsylvania
3. Salisbury University
4. University of Maryland – College Park


