I had a former student who got into his dream school, but it was too expensive. He wrote the $27,000 letter appealing to them for more money (see my blog about the 27,000 dollar letter about how to appeal for more money—it has worked for others). I told him that this was a school that was notoriously stingy, and I prepared him to brace himself for disappointment. He went to visit their campus two subsequent times with his family tax forms in hand appealing to them again. No change.
So, he went to his back up school. And he sulked. He stalked their website. He tracked what he WOULD be doing if he were going to his dream school. He saw when they had social events on campus and imagined being there.
He wasted the majority of his freshman year feeling the sting of disappointment of having to go to his back up school, a school he felt was beneath him.
Toward the end of his freshman year, he was inspired by a particular lecture of one of his professors. He visited him during his professor’s office hours. Over time, this professor became his mentor. This young man started doing research for this professor. He landed the perfect internship.
He found his way.
He texted me that he had made a grave mistake in wasting an entire freshman year wishing all of that time away and implored me to share his story with future classes.
Don’t be this guy wishing away your time on a given campus. If it’s truly the wrong one, you can transfer. In the meantime, stay open.
Connect with college professors.
Seek out opportunities to advance in your major.
Stay open to friendships.
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