A Letter to High Schoolers Struggling to Make a College Decision

To any high schooler struggling to make a college decision or looking for a reason to settle on Penn State,

I am currently a second semester freshman at Penn State. I could not be happier with my decision to come to this school — but it was not a very easy decision for me to make. 

I tend to be very indecisive, and I know a lot of my high school friends were too when it came to making this life changing decision. So, if you’re a current high school junior or senior looking for reasons to choose a college, choose Penn State. I’m going to tell you how I “half chose” Penn State, how it fully chose me back and why you should choose it either half-heartedly like me or officially.

In my senior year of high school, I was very lost and overwhelmed when it came to college. I went through the motions of touring schools and applying to the ones I could “see myself at” but I truly had no clue. 

I was lucky enough to be accepted to all the schools I applied to, but I hated that. I almost wanted someone else to make the decision for me. I looked to my friends and family for so much advice and they gave me tons, but it was solely my decision to make in the end.

My top colleges were James Madison University and the University of Delaware. I loved both of those schools when I toured them, and I was stoked when I got the acceptance letter from them both. However, I also got the letter from Penn State and I had never even stepped foot on the campus. 

So, my parents and I drove up for accepted students day and I never learned so much in one day. I learned about my major that I had applied to, the amazing advisors, the endless opportunities and the physical campus. I was blown away and I immediately found myself gravitating toward Penn State because I saw myself there socially and academically. The academic side I did not see at the other schools. 

This was one of the main reasons why I ended up choosing Penn State. Getting to this decision was not easy for me at all though. 

After actually visiting Penn State, I went home feeling so good but even more confused. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, and it became one of my top choices too. This was hard because now I was torn between not two colleges, but three. 

I did plenty of research on each of the schools and made numerous pros and cons lists, but I could never narrow it down. Out of pure frustration at constantly having this huge decision on my head, I finally sat down at my kitchen table and talked myself through every little thing. 

My parents helped me and after about an hour, I finally said, “I guess I’ll go with Penn State?” 

I wasn’t even sure about it, and it’s not that Penn State wasn’t my first choice, it’s just I had such a difficult time deciding and I had no idea what the future held for me. 

But, the decision was made. I stuck with it and I cannot even begin to explain how happy I am that I did. 

Since starting my first semester there, Penn State has given me and taught me more than I could ever imagine. First, I learned how to really be myself and how to better myself in the ways I wanted. 

In high school, I always struggled with being myself and I always let other people’s comments or opinions change me. I stopped doing that when I got to Penn State. I got to discover who I was on my own in an environment of all new people. 

These people were so accepting of exactly who I was and these people are now my best friends. They are my “dorm neighbors,” and they are my biggest supporters. They have pushed me to do the best things for myself that I don’t think I ever would’ve done on my own. Because of them, I joined three new clubs all helping me to gain experience and learn more about my major in every meeting. 

I have become more outgoing and met their friends, and we have meshed so well and welcomed them into our group as well. They have also helped me to become more focused. They have learned almost everything about me in such a short amount of time and they know what makes me tick. They know exactly what to say if I get down on myself or if I am too lazy to get up and do work. This is what I specifically mean when I say they have truly pushed me. I don’t know where I would be without them. 

I have seen so many of my other high school friends develop this kind of strong group too, and I cannot stress how important they are. They become your family and at Penn State, I think they are very easy to find. I might totally be biased, but I seriously believe that if you go into Penn State with an open mind and you put yourself out there, they will come to you. They may even be your floor mates, too.

Another thing that swept me away about Penn State is the overall look and feel of the campus. Once I actually lived there, I felt the sense of family that spread all over the campus — from the students, to the administration, to the professors. 

There is school spirit everywhere with everyone wearing Penn State gear. Walking to my classes everyday, I could not get over how beautiful it was. Whether it is sunny, rainy, or snowy, it is gorgeous. The buildings are a perfect mix of modern and old fashioned, and the landscaping is always so taken care of. 

All of the students are also so nice and welcoming and I could not believe how much the upperclassmen loved their school. When I heard them talk about Penn State within the first week I was there, I was astonished that someone could honestly love their college that much. 

It was funny that within my first month, I could confidently say I felt the same way. Even now after a semester and a half, I am bragging on and on about this place. 

The clubs you have access to at this school are endless as well. There are ones specifically dedicated to majors, sports, art, community service, study abroad, Greek life, and so many more. 

Every single person has the ability to find something for them here. I’ll be honest, you are only going to get out of it what you put in. So, it is so important to have an open mind and join at least three clubs that could benefit you in some way. Each club I’m in teaches me something different, and the people that I have met through them are irreplaceable. After being a part of these organizations, I can say we are so excited for the next round of freshmen to join too.

So, no matter how high up Penn State is on your list, you should choose it anyway because it is the best place on Earth. If you just put yourself out there and keep an open mind, you will get so much out of it. I may have adapted to and enjoyed either of my other choices, but there is no way I would have done as well at those schools as I have at Penn State. They have everything you need to succeed if you just take advantage of it. I truly couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else because this university has become my second home.

You know what decision to make,

Marlena

• college
• Decision Day
• high school
• senior year