So the 2010 admissions cycle has come to a close, and for the most part, we’ve all heard back from our respective schools. Looking back, there’s one major thing that I’ve learned from the past eight nerve-wracking months: expect the unexpected.
First of all, I had planned on applying to 18 schools and spending approximately $1,200. (Crazy, I know.) After giving up on some apps, adding some new schools, withdrawing some apps because I just really didn’t know why I was applying in the first place or severely doubted my chances of getting in due to grades or CC’s scarily amazing applicants, I ended up applying to 11 schools, accepted into 10, and spending approximately $642.
And that was only the tip of the iceberg.
When I first started applying to schools, I was sure of my future: I was to get a bachelor’s in business and follow the pre-med track, go to medical school and get an MBA as well, graduate, and be an amazing doctor. 
And that’s how I started. I applied to 8 schools as a business major, and another 2 as a biology major. My first acceptance was from St. John’s, for their 0-6 pharmacy program. I had no intention of doing pharmacy, but hey, the application was free !
I didn’t think much of it at first, but St. John’s had also given me free tuition for 4 years. And so I started thinking, hey, I might not necessarily guarantee myself admittance into medical school four years from now, but I can always graduate with a doctor of pharmacy degree in six years. With more research, conducted both here on CC and on studentdoctor, I started thinking more and more about a career in pharmacy, especially if it was only going to cost me about $80,000 total.
Soon after that, I got accepted EA into Northeastern for business administration. Looking at their Student Portal, I saw a link that said something along the lines of “Change Your Major.” After two weeks’ worth of doubtful consideration I decided to see if I could get into their pharmacy program, instead.
And I did, and I got to keep the scholarship they had given me earlier.
This time, as more acceptances from other schools rolled in, I was seriously considering my future. Business at my dream school and a potential medical degree, or pharmacy? After… maybe a month, maybe less (really, that’s all it was), of deliberation with CC open in my browser every day, I decided: pharmacy it was.
Although I may end up spending a whole lot more than if I had gone to St. John’s or some of the other business programs I got accepted at, I’m happy with my decision. In fact, I went from “psh, pharmacy? All pharmacists do all day is stand there and give out pills to little old ladies,” to “hmm…it actually gives me a lot of different opportunities!”
So curveballs and unexpectedness can be good. Change is good ! [sometimes.]