You Got Admitted!  But what exactly are you getting yourself into?

Educating the whole you is no small task.  Standing on the threshold of this next phase of your life is exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.  So many details, so many decisions to make, so much that’s new.  Students are often looking at things like college reputations and quality of programs when applying to colleges.  These factors are very important.  However, something I wish students would consider more carefully is personal fit.

I’m not talking about “Is the curriculum a match for my career goals?” or “College X is the flagship institution in the state, so it’s the best” kind of fit.  I am talking about what I call a “deep fit.”   As an advisor at a large, urban research institution, I often see students who arrive at our wonderful campus brimming with enthusiasm during orientation, only to be completely adrift a month later.  Why?

These students thought they did everything right, only to discover there’s a lot more to consider about college than just classes, roommates, and studying.  The college or university above all else has to be a place where you can fully engage in a way that’s comfortable and meaningful for you personally.

To help you determine whether that amazing institution of higher education you have just been admitted to is also your “deep fit,” I offer you the Deep Fit Reflection Guide to help you get honest with yourself about any little, nagging doubts you may have or to prompt some discussion about things as yet unconsidered.

1. Are You Close to Your Family?  The number one problem for new freshmen is homesickness. If you can’t imagine not seeing your family until the holidays, then going across the country for school may not be your best fit.  Consider how independent you truly are and discuss openly with your family what everyone’s expectations are about coming home during the school year.
2. Bring a Buddy.  Another major issue for transitioning freshmen is a lack of social connections.  Isolation and loneliness don’t make for happy starts to any new endeavor. While it may not be possible for you to take your bestie to college, consider what your chosen college has in terms of housing arrangements, student clubs, and on-campus employment.  If your college has Living and Learning Communities in the residence halls, a student organization focused on one of your passions, or the opportunity, perhaps, to gain solid job experience on campus, then you are in a much better position to make friends in no time if you take advantage of these opportunities.
3. Working the System.  Big Ten campus or small liberal arts college?  These are very different experiences.  Students who are self-directed, assertive, and outgoing do well on bigger campuses where there are more people, more offices, more to manage, more of everything.  Just the physical size of a campus can be intimidating and uncomfortable for some students.  Are you prepared or able to walk 10 or 15 minutes between buildings (in any weather), or would you prefer everything to be more or less in one place?  Are you interested in having a more personalized experience that is facilitated, or are you someone who likes the challenge of putting together a larger puzzle?  One is not better than the other. What’s important is knowing who you are and making the choice that reflects your personal needs and preferences.
4. Money Matters. Students are often thrilled to be admitted to a school out of state or a private school that really excites them, so they quickly say yes only to realize after they’ve started school there that the long-term outlook for affording it is bleak. Anything like financial concerns that takes your head out of the books usually has an impact on your ability to perform well academically and threatens your ability to finish.  You don’t want to choose a school, no matter how good, that will leave you crushed financially to the point that you have to work full-time to pay your bills while in college.  I see this all the time, and it leaves students with no space in which to enjoy the school they so badly wanted to attend in the first place.
5. Resources.  Do you have a learning disability?  Test anxiety? Anything you can think of that might be a barrier to your success should be considered.  Understand what the school you want to attend has to offer, know where the resources are and how to access the help.  Reach out on the first day of class to the tutoring center if you’ve always struggled in math, for example.  If the resources seem intimidating, confusing, sparse, or inadequate for your particular needs, it’s probably not your deep fit.
6. Feeling it. Above all else, this has to be your decision.  Choosing the college where you will devote the next 4 or 5 years to is serious business.  It can’t be about fulfilling someone else’s dreams or expectations.  Work with your parents and loved ones to get real and honest about what you need and want.  Sometimes this will lead to surprising revelations.  Maybe starting college immediately after high school isn’t the right move, maybe starting out at a two year college makes sense; don’t be afraid of considering all the options.  At some point you have to go deep and follow your gut.  Trust it!