Finding the Right Fit
If you’re a senior and have now been admitted to multiple institutions (hopefully WPI is among them), you have just over three weeks to make one of the most important decisions thus far in your life. No pressure.
No, really. Of course, you should put a lot of thought into this decision. This is your education, your next four years, your home. You’re probably getting phone calls, e-mails, mailings, and invitations from the schools who have admitted you inviting you to pay one last visit to campus, stay overnight, meet students, attend regional events, and join virtual communities. We’re wooing (no pun intended as “Woo” sometimes is an abbreviation used for Worcester) you to become connected to our communities, experience our campuses, and ultimately enroll at our institutions.
That’s all well and good, but as an admissions counselor I continually remind myself that I’m not simply a salesperson for WPI. Sure, my passion for this place is very strong and evident, but no matter what level of passion I have, I’m not going to convince you to come here if you don’t belong here. There’s the element of counseling in my job that I feel comes through this month more than any other. In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken with numerous students who may or may not belong at WPI. I gave them the facts, and the facts will tell the story. I’m not going to make up a story just to fit the student; I’m going to tell the real stories about our campus, our students, our education, and our outcomes.
What does all of this mean? It means that we want you to find the right fit in the college you choose to attend. Colleges want their students to be successful. It’s not a beneficial situation for you or us if we simply put all of our effort into enrolling as many students as possible. We want students who will live, learn, thrive, and succeed on our campuses.
So, when you’re visiting schools in the coming days and weeks, ask yourself “Will I get a good education here? Will I enjoy my time out of class? Can I picture myself living here for the next four years of my life?” You may have more than one “right fit” school. If so, that’s great; you can pick and choose which campus you like the best. But please don’t fall into the trap of making your mind up without all of the facts; your preconceived notions may be incorrect. Remember, I want you to be successful. Just as all of my colleagues across the country do.
Good luck, congratulations, and please let me know how I can help.
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