From a very young age, I had my eyes set on being accepted to a prestigious university. Beginning in 7th or 8th grade, I read countless books about the college admissions “game.” I began preparing for standardized exams well over a year in advance, and when it came time to apply, I obsessively wrote and re-wrote my essays. I even changed high schools for a brief time because I thought it would improve my chances of being admitted to the college of my dreams. In short, I was obsessed.
Yet I thought very little about what I would actually do once I got in. Nor did I think about how well I would like the college I was attending after I arrived. After being admitted to the colleges of my choice, I quickly began to face the reality of my situation. I attended several events for admitted students, and I noticed that things just didn’t feel like I thought they should.
In my obsession over student-to-teacher ratios, average SAT scores and the like, I had forgotten to ask myself: Is this a place where I myself can flourish academically and live happily? As my senior year clicked away, I began to feel as though I had gone about the process entirely the wrong way. I could not afford the school of my dreams, and all the other excellent schools I had been admitted to did not seem to fit well once I tried them on.
Then I arrived at the University of Tulsa. On my second visit, I started to feel like this was a place where I would be comfortable. I met several professors (all quite amiable, all willing to speak with me) and I began to realize how important undergraduates were to them. TU began to form in my head as an ideal university, one where I could pursue my many academic interests, engage in hands-on research as an undergraduate, stay moderately close to home, and enjoy direct contact with excellent faculty members like nowhere else.
As my graduation date nears, I look back on my college career and grin. I have had the opportunity to pursue degrees in both computer science and philosophy, a combination only possible because of the helpful faculty and the administration’s support of each individual in pursuing his/her own academic interests. I have been actively engaged in computer security research with a top professor in the field, published my research in major academic journals and met repeatedly with leaders from government, academia and industry.
TU may not be in the Ivy League, but I feel as though my college experience has been far superior to any alternative. The high quality of instruction across disciplines and my invaluable experiences outside the classroom have helped me find my passion for cyber law and prepared me for law school as no other university could have.
In the end, I have realized that the admissions “game” is but one more step in the larger game of life. It is by no means an end unto itself, but hopefully a positive process whereby you may locate a great fit for you. May you find a place where you can flourish academically and live happily, and I wish you the best of luck.
