Sydney - Tulane University - Class of 2028

I will be the first to admit that my college admissions process was… a bit much. But for a first-generation college student with sub-par resources on how to navigate the admissions process, I think I did about as well as I could.

I applied to exactly 20 schools; 6 public, 14 private; 4 in-state, 16 out-of-state. I started my applications early, applying to regular decision colleges all the way back in November, and I was done with my applications by New Years. I would have had an almost stress-free college admissions experience had the FAFSA delays not been an issue — and had I not been admitted to an Ivy League college after mentally committing to my dream school.

A Sure Thing

I always thought Tulane was perfect: Small enough to not be disorienting, tucked into the corner of a bustling New Orleans; I loved its commitment to community service, its diverse core curriculum requirements that allow flexible degree plans, and its extensive extracurriculars such as the TUSTEP service dog training program. Plus, I love New Orleans as a city, and the fact that, like New Orleans, Tulane is always hosting some sort of festival — any excuse to have a party. As I did my research, there was little I learned about Tulane that didn’t immediately make me like it more.

I did everything right when applying to Tulane. I visited multiple times to show demonstrated interest, I applied early action, and I wrote an eloquent and personalized “Why us?” essay. I was thrilled and extremely relieved to be accepted in December. I didn’t immediately say “yes” to Tulane, though. Due to the delays with the FAFSA form, my Tulane acceptance didn’t come with my financial aid offer – only an estimate, and I was uncertain whether my family could afford it. 

An Ivy Day Shocker

Though Tulane was my top choice, I had applied to several other highly ranked colleges, mostly because I qualified for application fee waivers and out of sheer curiosity whether or not I could get in. To my surprise, I was admitted to many schools I had considerable interest in — Oberlin, Swarthmore, Mount Holyoke, Wesleyan, University of Washington, Smith — but when I saw their financial aid estimates, I crossed them off my list without a second thought. Even with financial aid, my family couldn’t afford these schools. 

I also received a good number of rejections, so I had low expectations for my decisions from the Ivies. On Ivy Day, after receiving denials from Yale and Penn, I opened an email from Dartmouth. I stared at the message in shock for a solid minute before I fully processed it. I was admitted! My family celebrated by treating me to some unjustifiably expensive cookies from a local dessert shop and telling everyone that they came into contact with along the way.

Stunned by a Financial Aid Offer

Not long after, I received my acceptance package from Dartmouth. This included my acceptance letter, my financial aid offer, an assortment of stickers, and a handwritten letter from an admissions counselor praising my writing, which made me feel both seen and appreciated. I place a lot of value on my writing ability, so, for it to be acknowledged by someone from an Ivy League college was extremely impactful for me.  It still bolsters my confidence from time to time. 

The financial aid offer was startling. Dartmouth, like some other colleges, has a financial aid policy of covering full tuition, room, and board for students in families making under a certain income threshold. We qualified for Dartmouth’s threshold by a long shot. I was offered completely free tuition, room and board, refunded travel expenses to visit for an ‘Admitted Students Day,’ free access to their student healthcare plan, stipends for study abroad, and a $25 gift card to L.L. Bean to purchase cold weather gear. I hesitate to admit this because, on paper, it makes me look like kind of an idiot. Who would turn down an opportunity to attend an Ivy League practically free of charge? But, the offer on paper didn’t include the complex emotions I felt. Tulane had been my dream school since I entered high school, but how could I say no to an Ivy League?

Diving into Dartmouth

Honestly, I didn’t know much about Dartmouth. Like most of the schools I applied to, I had only applied to test whether or not I was capable of getting in. I wasn’t expecting to have to deal with the repercussions of actually being accepted. I knew that Dartmouth was an Ivy League school with a commitment to living sustainably, that it encourages outdoorsmanship, and it operates on a quarterly schedule. I also knew that it was 2,000 miles away from my home in Lake Charles, and that New Hampshire is colder and has arguably worse food than Louisiana.

Fortunately, Dartmouth had a program that listed the contact information of students in different degree programs and extracurriculars for prospective students to contact and ask questions. I emailed a current Dartmouth student — someone else from a low-income background with an interest in environmental sustainability — who filled me in on some of the details and what the day-to-day life of a Dartmouth student was like.

Through this conversation and other research, I learned that Dartmouth, though academically rigorous, was flexible and life there might be more manageable than I anticipated. I also learned that the school had opportunities for community service similar to Tulane's, and I reviewed job statistics that revealed the two schools afforded very similar opportunities for post-graduate enrollment and starting salaries. This information leveled the playing field between the two schools – and didn’t make my decision any easier. 

Big Green Or Green Wave?

I deliberated for weeks. I asked everyone I knew. I posted a poll on my Snapchat story, I surveyed every family member I have. I began to notice a pattern in their answers: family members told me to follow my heart, but always ended up admitting that they would prefer I stayed close. My more ambitious (and less homebody-ish) friends wanted me to seize the opportunity and go to Dartmouth, while the friends who were sticking closer to home themselves voted for Tulane. I tried not to let these opinions influence me too much, knowing that it was my decision in the end.

So why did I end up choosing Tulane? Partly because Tulane and Louisiana in general are familiar to me. The people, the culture, the food; it’s where I feel safe. But a big reason I chose Tulane over Dartmouth is because being close to family is important to me. I have two younger siblings, and we are a very close-knit family unit. Even as I thought about moving 200 miles away to attend Tulane, the thought of not being home for nightly family dinners or to go shopping with my Mom or to walk our dog with my brother upset me. Being too far away to visit was out of the question. And, if I’m being honest, I had always known that. The distance from home was part of the reason why I loved Tulane in the first place. As many opportunities and benefits as Dartmouth presented, they were never going to outweigh Tulane’s proximity to home. 

In the end, I committed to Tulane at the beginning of April, still without financial aid information. Thankfully, that issue worked itself out within a couple of months. Tulane offered merit-based and need-based aid that rivaled Dartmouth’s offer. Though we will be paying slightly more out-of-pocket for Tulane than we would have for Dartmouth, the amount is very manageable. 

A couple of my friends still don’t understand my decision to attend Tulane. They think that I squandered an incredible opportunity. But, just because Dartmouth is an incredible school doesn’t mean that it is the right school for me. I wish I could say I felt secure in my decision; that from the moment I clicked the “Accept” button I’ve felt a sense of peace, but that is far from the truth. The values I’d gone into this experience with were turned on their head. In the end, I chose family over prestige. I may wake up a year from now with nothing but regret for the chance I squandered, but I also may wake up happier than I’ve ever been in my life. For now, I’ll just have to wait and see.

What I Learned

• Not all colleges are looking for a cookie-cutter, ‘Rory Gilmore’ type. You don’t necessarily need to have gone to an expensive private school or have been the head of every club your school offers to get admitted to a top college. What you may need is a direction, an interest, or even just decent storytelling ability. 
  
  
• You’re not weaker or less courageous if you choose to stay closer to home for college. I know people who were more than happy to move far away from home, but I think that everyone’s family operates under different dynamics. Some people function better with their family more at the forefront of their mind, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

The Money Factor

From Tulane, I received need-based aid covering about 48 percent of my college costs, as well as merit-based aid covering an additional 28 percent. Because I am attending a college in my home state, I also qualified for state-funded merit and need-based aid, which will pay for almost 9 percent of my expenses. Federal grants and a contribution from my parents will pay for the rest.

My advice

• Do not be afraid to ask others for help, especially current college students. I posed questions on subReddit message boards; I followed and messaged students on Instagram; and I spoke to a number of college freshmen who had attended my high school, even if I had known them only vaguely when they were there. Everyone I spoke to was very kind and willing to help, and from them I learned insider tips about how to navigate the application process.
• Don’t focus so much on being the best, just focus on being you. I didn’t start a nonprofit, I never even held a leadership position in high school. But I was accepted to an Ivy League college, on top of my dream school. Focus on honing your voice, and you’ll find a place that’s right for you. 

How CollegeData Helped Me on My Road to College

I used CollegeData’s College Search and College Chances, both of which helped me to decide where I wanted to focus my application efforts. The information in the college profiles – especially on campus life – is something that was hard to find anywhere else, but it was crucial to my decision-making process. The College Chances tool is also very fun to use and, even if you’re met with disappointingly low chances,  can motivate you to work harder to beat the odds.