Before you really begin to decide where to apply to college, take time to think about yourself. Think about your goals, your likes and dislikes, your abilities, and your resources.
Think about what you would like your life to be like when you are older. Do you have special interests that may affect the kind of career you will want someday? If you have a particular career in mind, you should look for colleges that can help you reach that goal.
Maybe you have only a general idea about your future. For example, traveling, living in a certain place, making a lot of money, or helping your community may be very important to you, even though you’re not sure how to accomplish any of these goals.
College provides wonderful opportunities for people who are not sure about their goals. You can test the waters and try out new directions. You can take courses in different areas. If you like, you can pursue those new directions or try still other opportunities.
Don’t be concerned or feel pressured if you are not sure what your goals are. College is not only for people with clear goals in sight. Most people find that their goals change throughout life. Knowing yourself does not mean that you must have all the answers about your future.
Being honest with yourself may mean admitting that you don’t know or you’re not sure about your goals. However, this understanding will help you make better decisions about where to apply to college.
