So yes, it came down to a coin flip, pros and cons list, overanalyzing the Fiske Guide and past threads on CC, and randomly drawing a slip of paper with the name of the college out of a hat. Funnily enough, for the 1st and 4th scenarios, the result was Swarthmore. Maybe a sign from the universe?
I won’t lie; for me, it’s really really hard to ignore what my family has been telling me to do. I’m worried that I’m going to get a less than satisfactory GPA, and ruin my chances of getting a job or going to grad school. I’m worried that I will be at the bottom of the bell curve, and that I won’t make any friends. I’m worried that as a low income student and first gen college student, that I feel it is my responsibility to attain a stable job with a stable and high salary, so I can help my mom and provide for her everything that she couldn’t have. This past month, I cried almost twice weekly in school, because there was a lot of external family issues that I was trying to deal with.
Understandably, my family feels that USC is the safe decision. The decision that will have me close to home, the decision that will give me “a safety net” and “easier time maintaing and earning a better GPA” Not being a natural risk taker, I really hope my decision was the right one.
Excited for the next chapter at Swarthmore College.
This would not have been possible without the guidance of College Confidential and all the amazing advice I was given by the posters. Thank you, all, so much.