So, it's official...finally
This entry may horrify you with it's length. Seriously, I'm warning you.
Dear Ashley,
Thank you for contacting us regarding the change in your decision to
enroll. Since it is still before the May 1st decision deadline, it is
not a problem for you to make that switch We have updated our records
to reflect your intent to enroll at Harvard in the fall.
Thank you for contacting us. We are pleased to hear you will be joining us!
Sincerely,
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Harvard College
So yes, I have decided to go to Harvard. As you can see from the "switch" mentioned in the above letter, I did not intend to go to Harvard until very recently. One week ago, I was in California attending Stanford's Admit Weekend. Immediately upon seeing the campus, I expressed my intent to go there, and I felt my decision solidify with each minute I spent there. I returned Monday on a bit of a Stanford high and sent in my denial to Harvard. I even sported my Stanford hoodie about the school (yes, I succumbed to Corey Fig syndrome). However, when sealing the envolope containing my Stanford deposit, the doubts that I'd been having during the previous days hit me.
Truth is, I've been focused on Stanford for so long that I just always assumed I'd go. Before ever seeing the campus or setting foot in California, I decided it was the place for me simply because it was on the opposite side of the country, and I felt that I needed to make so drastic a move to get what I wanted out of the college experience. Not that I chose to apply blindly, because Stanford does have an amazing Biology program and many other attractive qualities, but I think I was only so set on it because it is so far away, and I had always imagined that I would go away for college. Also, after a while, I felt as though everyone expected me to. But upon seeing it, I realized that Stanford is certainly a very campus-oriented school, not nearly as close or connected to San Fransisco as I had previously convinced myself. It is in the suburbs/foothills of the Bay Area, about an hour's train ride away from the city. Stanford in itself, from what I experienced while there, is like it's own isolated world. And honestly, I don't see myself happily living on an enclosed campus for the next 4 years. I've always been a city person, having grown up in quite a large one. I need to be close to things, and have things be accessible to me. I need the excitement and pace of city-living. I need to be able to go out and have so many options available to me. I think I'd go crazy being so separated from the outside world at Stanford. I don't view it as me "chickening out". I've just finally come to realize that as much as I try to tell myself Stanford is the right place for me, it probably isn't. I think I was only so focused on it mainly because it is so far away, and I felt like I needed to make that move to meet new people and have new experiences.
But alas, I can also do that at Harvard. With all other aspects being equal between Stanford and Harvard, besides location, Boston really is the right place for me. I love the city, as indicated by my frequent visits to it. And while I've grown up so close to Boston, I'm very unfamiliar with it. I'd never even spent a day in the city until almost my junior year. And though I have gone semi-regularly as of late, it has only been to visit a friend's dorm or to go shopping at the Prudential. I have no idea what living there is like, so going to Harvard really would be something new for me. Plus, how would I be able to watch the Pats games in California? I'd have to watch the 49'ers ::cringe::...what a waste of a football team. Sorry, off topic...After I had previously decided to attend Stanford, I was still so unsure, but I figured that was normal since I never felt as though I would be 100% decided either way. But having made the decision to switch to Harvard just last night, I am very content, happy, and finally doubt-free. I now know that I want to go to Harvard. I'm just annoyed it took me so long to figure it out.
So for all of you who had to hear me talk about it so much, I apologize. If I were you I would've been annoyed with myself long ago. Thankfully you will not have to hear of it anymore, and I'm sure you are all brimming with ecstasy now that I will be within state boundaries next year! Go Crimson.
How terribly long. Someone remind me to never update my lj again.
Dear Ashley,
Thank you for contacting us regarding the change in your decision to
enroll. Since it is still before the May 1st decision deadline, it is
not a problem for you to make that switch We have updated our records
to reflect your intent to enroll at Harvard in the fall.
Thank you for contacting us. We are pleased to hear you will be joining us!
Sincerely,
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Harvard College
So yes, I have decided to go to Harvard. As you can see from the "switch" mentioned in the above letter, I did not intend to go to Harvard until very recently. One week ago, I was in California attending Stanford's Admit Weekend. Immediately upon seeing the campus, I expressed my intent to go there, and I felt my decision solidify with each minute I spent there. I returned Monday on a bit of a Stanford high and sent in my denial to Harvard. I even sported my Stanford hoodie about the school (yes, I succumbed to Corey Fig syndrome). However, when sealing the envolope containing my Stanford deposit, the doubts that I'd been having during the previous days hit me.
Truth is, I've been focused on Stanford for so long that I just always assumed I'd go. Before ever seeing the campus or setting foot in California, I decided it was the place for me simply because it was on the opposite side of the country, and I felt that I needed to make so drastic a move to get what I wanted out of the college experience. Not that I chose to apply blindly, because Stanford does have an amazing Biology program and many other attractive qualities, but I think I was only so set on it because it is so far away, and I had always imagined that I would go away for college. Also, after a while, I felt as though everyone expected me to. But upon seeing it, I realized that Stanford is certainly a very campus-oriented school, not nearly as close or connected to San Fransisco as I had previously convinced myself. It is in the suburbs/foothills of the Bay Area, about an hour's train ride away from the city. Stanford in itself, from what I experienced while there, is like it's own isolated world. And honestly, I don't see myself happily living on an enclosed campus for the next 4 years. I've always been a city person, having grown up in quite a large one. I need to be close to things, and have things be accessible to me. I need the excitement and pace of city-living. I need to be able to go out and have so many options available to me. I think I'd go crazy being so separated from the outside world at Stanford. I don't view it as me "chickening out". I've just finally come to realize that as much as I try to tell myself Stanford is the right place for me, it probably isn't. I think I was only so focused on it mainly because it is so far away, and I felt like I needed to make that move to meet new people and have new experiences.
But alas, I can also do that at Harvard. With all other aspects being equal between Stanford and Harvard, besides location, Boston really is the right place for me. I love the city, as indicated by my frequent visits to it. And while I've grown up so close to Boston, I'm very unfamiliar with it. I'd never even spent a day in the city until almost my junior year. And though I have gone semi-regularly as of late, it has only been to visit a friend's dorm or to go shopping at the Prudential. I have no idea what living there is like, so going to Harvard really would be something new for me. Plus, how would I be able to watch the Pats games in California? I'd have to watch the 49'ers ::cringe::...what a waste of a football team. Sorry, off topic...After I had previously decided to attend Stanford, I was still so unsure, but I figured that was normal since I never felt as though I would be 100% decided either way. But having made the decision to switch to Harvard just last night, I am very content, happy, and finally doubt-free. I now know that I want to go to Harvard. I'm just annoyed it took me so long to figure it out.
So for all of you who had to hear me talk about it so much, I apologize. If I were you I would've been annoyed with myself long ago. Thankfully you will not have to hear of it anymore, and I'm sure you are all brimming with ecstasy now that I will be within state boundaries next year! Go Crimson.
How terribly long. Someone remind me to never update my lj again.