For those about to start to start college

For those about to start to start college (or high school, or, I suppose, other life transitions)…

I was trolling the college admissions sites, looking for places to plug my blog again (that would be www.notjustadmissions.com – go there now! Don’t miss out!), when I stumbled on (not “stumbledupon”) a post on USearch from a young lady about to start college and near panic over the transition. She begged to hear from others with similar fears, and instead I posted this response:
As Douglas Adams famously wrote, "Don't Panic". Fear of major change is perfectly normal. And yes, you will get a grade you don't want in some class, you will feel homesick, and you might even gain a few pounds. You will also make lifelong friends, have incredibly experiences, and be amazingly stupendously successful. And how could I know?

Of course I don't...not for sure. But after 20 years in education administration I can tell you that colleges and universities are REALLY GOOD at what they do. We depend on turning out successful students, happy students, empowered students. Why? Because we WANT YOU TO DONATE.
Ok - that's not the only reason. It's also because we have spent years and years developing systems for student success. We have all kinds of support systems, and someone spent a lot of time deciding that you (yes YOU) are a great match for your school. They believe you can be great there or they wouldn't have admitted you!

Here's a funny secret - the more excited you are the less likely you are to stumble in your freshman year. The studies that are around say that the students MOST excited about their school make the fastest social connections and have the best academic success. Did you get that? It's not how much money you have, what grades you've gotten, or how popular you are that is the best indicator of your success in school...it's your self awareness, confidence, and excitement.

So do yourself a favor and stand back and ENJOY. You have an entire educational system dedicated to showing you a good time and preparing you for THE REAL WORLD (whatever that is). Make the most of it - save your stress for that real world experience looming in the distant future (or, alternatively, stay in school forever. Hey - it worked for me!). Be seeing you.