Hi Scholars!
Happy December! Congratulations to those who have graduated, finished another semester, or received an admissions decision!! Even if you didn’t get the result that you wanted, don’t give up and stay encouraged.
Speaking of being encouraged, I want to offer a few words of encouragement to any parent, guardian, or student who is having a difficult time getting the proverbial ball rolling with the undergraduate or graduate admissions process (which admittedly can be daunting). Hey, we’ve all been there. We really want to accomplish something. Yet, we seem to have little motivation to actually do anything to make it happen. Sometimes the lack of motivation comes from not knowing what moves to make. Sometimes we’re exhausted from other obligations. And let’s be honest, sometimes we’re just lazy. But we know that we can’t accomplish the goal without getting started, so what do we do?
In the case of getting motivated to start the college or grad school admissions process, try going on a campus visit. I’ve seen campus visits motivate even the most uninspired students (and parents) to begin preparing for college. Campus visits help you to get a first-hand account of college life, gain access to key departments like admissions and financial aid, and perhaps most importantly, get you excited about going to college.
While it would be ideal for you to visit a college that you’re interested in attending, it is totally ok if your college(s) of interest isn’t the one you visit initially. Just make sure you don’t allow yourself to be discouraged by characteristics of this college that your eventual college will not have. For example, don’t get frustrated by the lack of a bustling nightlife if you visited a nearby college in a rural area but you will likely be attending college in a big city. Nightlife will be a non-issue where you’re going. Use this first visitation experience as motivation to visit your school(s) of choice–and to better understand your likes and dislikes.
As the popular quote says, “The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately.” If you’re feeling stagnant making your higher ed dreams come true, try going on a campus visit.
In Scholarship and Solidarity,
Dr. D.