 Photo by KOBU Agency on Unsplash One of my favorite things about May is when the National Association for College Admission Counseling releases its list of college openings. These are colleges and universities that are still accepting applications for this upcoming fall from high school seniors and transfer students. This year, there are over 650 schools with space for new applicants, including University of San Diego, Colorado State University, and Emerson College.
What I love so much about this list is that it emphasizes the reality that there really is no “right” way to get to college. Yes, there is a traditional way – apply in the fall, find out in the spring, make your decision by May 1st, buy a sweatshirt and post a picture of yourself wearing it on social media (or have your mom post it – moms love that). But that’s not everyone’s experience. In fact, it’s not even the most common college-going experience. For students whose application process didn’t go the way they were hoping it would, or who aren’t excited about the choices they do have, or whose circumstances might have changed since last fall: you still have options. And if you find a great college on this list and head there this fall, rest assured that there won’t be an asterisk next to your name. They don’t have special dorms for the kids who applied after May 1st. You get to wear the same sweatshirt and graduate with the same diploma as kids who applied at the beginning of their senior year. Your college experience, the quality of your education, and your opportunities in the future will depend on your initiative, enthusiasm, and effort, just like they do for everyone else. So if you need more choices, take a look at NACAC’s list and feel good about making the decision that will be best for you rather than following what everyone else seems to be doing.
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