Why did you pick your college?

superiorbandgeek
Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:58:30 +0000

^That sucks and my sympathies are with you. Anyways my story is a little strange.

I grew up in a VERY divided house. My dad was a devout UNC-CH fan, and my mother was a devout NC State fan. There was no discussion about it, I was going to an ACC school. So I fell in love with Carolina, and everything about it. I loved the programs there, it’s beautiful and to make a long story short it “fit.” I hated everything about NC State, the location, the looks, the programs. It’s a very good school for science, math and technology, and since I hate all three there was no need for me to waste my time or money. So I went through my high school years preparing for Carolina. I was invited for two honors programs, which included me staying in their dorms for a total of about 5 days.

Second semester of my junior year in HS, we were playing “The Sound of Music” in band to prepared us for our TSOM tour in Austria the following summer. My band director thought it would be neat to listen to a marching band arrangement of it. He never got around to playing for my particular class. I was disappointed as I love marching band (band geek hence the name). I knew I wanted to listen to that cd!
So one day before winterguard practice, I went in the band room to put something away, when I happen to see the CD at the front of the room. I double checked to make sure no one was there, and I swiped the cd and took it home to listen. WOW, it was the best marching band ever. I had to find out who this was. It was obvious by the skill level that this was no HS band. I looked at the cd and it had JMU written on it with a felt pen. I googled JMU marching band, and was directed to the Marching Royal Dukes page. I looked at the page, and immediately downloaded every song I could get. This marching band was incredible. I thought “THEY HAVE TO HAVE A MUSIC SCHOOL!” I did some research and sure enough they did. And it appeared to be well known with composers such as Robert W. Smith teaching there back in '94. The next day I talked to my band director about JMU, and his eyes lit up. He was excited that I considered JMU as a school, though he warned me that Out Of State tuition was a killer. I still had my heart set on Carolina, but JMU attracted my interest. I became educated and looked at all my options, and unfortunately Carolina was ruled out. That day was full of tears and crying. They had my major and everything, but it just wasn’t the BEST one. If I’m going to spend four years in an intense research environment, it better be the best in that field. Carolina just wasn’t up to my standards as far as their music program, but JMU was. I looked at WCU also as it was in-state and much MUCH cheaper. I applied to both.

Both had great music schools, but every time I said James Madison, I just felt proud. It sounded intelligent. It wasn’t too well known down here in North Carolina, but those who were familiar with the programs there, knew that it was one of the schools to be desired. I was often complimented for making James Madison University one of my choices.

Letters began to come back. JMU waitlisted me! WCU accepted me. I practically tore the house up. I even went driving on the near by highway in excess of 100+, I was just that mad (I don’t process rejection well!). DEFERRED?!? JMU is selective, but I knew with my GPA, ACT scores, and course load, I merited acceptance. I knew I could get into Carolina if I had applied, and that’s saying something. Carolina is much harder to get into than JMU so yes I was mad. I had forgotten that I was out of state. So I was preparing to go to my second choice, and send in the tuition deposit. I cried every time I thought about what COULD have been. There isn’t a word in the English Dictionary that describe the hurt I had. I wanted JMU like people wanted admissions into an Ivy League. As a matter of fact, I would turn down any college and I do mean ANY college (except for Cambridge University in England), for JMU. That’s how much I’d fallen in love with that school. A DAY BEFORE I mailed my check to Western Carolina University, James Madison University called and told me that they would grant them acceptance if I were still interested. I lost it over the phone. The counselor told me he understood, and even gave me a minute to recuperate. It was like a huge boulder being lifted from my back. I was going to get the chance to attend my number one choice, and I would do anything in my power to protect it. I quickly tore up my check for WCU, and wrote a new one.

Needless to say when my parents found out what I’d done, they were MAD! I didn’t care. Yes financial aid should be a determining factor in college decision, however if your child shows interest in a college, and worked hard in high school and shows potential, then I feel the parents owe it to that child to do everything in their power to make it happen. It’s a team effort. Anyway that’s another soap box for another time. We argued over it, but it was after they visited the college that they were sold. Yes it was out of state. Yes my dad took out enormous loans, and yes it took extensive prayer to make it happen. I don’t take my upcoming freshman year at JMU likely. I know to stay here that it will be a constant struggle, but it’s worth it. I’ve never felt this passionate about Carolina, and I tried to make as many home games as I could be it football or basketball. I bought as many UNC paraphernalia as I could possibly afford. I was and will always be a dedicated Tar Heel fan. They just didn’t fit my needs for college like James Madison University did. Now I don’t recommend applying to a college before visiting like I did, but I just had that blind faith. I knew JMU was everything I wanted it to be. If there’s a certain college you want be it Ivy or not, and you have the GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other qualifications for it, my advice is to fight for it. Do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Don’t let the prices of Out of State, or Private scare you away. Where there’s a will there’s a way. I don’t care that JMU is Div. I AA, I’m happy. I don’t care that I’m not going to Yale or Harvard. I’m going somewhere that I truly love, and I would NOT accept any other college than JMU. As you can see, my pride for this school runs deep.