For many people, going away to college is a chance to meet new people in an unfamiliar place, far from the comforts of home. This belief was the driving force behind my top college choices when I first began my search. Back then, I never would have guessed that I would end up going to Wheaton College, a school just 15 minutes away from home.
Having spent my entire life in various areas of the Midwest, the most appealing schools were the ones far away - in California, Florida or on the East Coast. Like many people my age, I really wanted to get far away from the confines of home and gain some much-anticipated freedom. I also wanted to escape the notoriously irregular and often-unpleasant Chicago weather I’ve been subjected to for the past eight years. That’s why I was shocked when I discovered that the perfect school for me was right under my nose, one suburb away.
You can visit anytime
As you begin your college search, don’t automatically rule out schools that are nearby. I’ve already discovered many advantages of going to Wheaton. First of all, visiting the school was very easy - in fact, I was able to make multiple visits during my search, each time to observe a different aspect of campus life. Sometimes, especially on “official” tours of campus, the whole campus experience looks so perfect and appealing. Making frequent visits helped me to see some of the not-so-appealing aspects as well, such as the long walk from certain dorms to the center of campus. And I was also able to visit enough to see a huge variety of campus activities, which helped me decide that Wheaton was in fact where I belonged.
Also, being nearby was influential in the admission process. Every time I visited the campus, I got to know admissions counselors and other officers, which can really have a positive effect on one’s selection. The more they know an applicant and the more he or she stands out to them, the more likely that candidate will be remembered when it comes time to sort through the applicant pool.
