Category: College

Hello September

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Hi everyone, this week has been filled with school, homework, work, and going to the gym so I will update on all of that in the coming days. However, for the past few months (on and off) I have started off the month by writing a few goals for the month, During August I never followed up with them, but since I am finally back in the swing of things, I will be following up again at the end of the month. Let’s get started with my September goals

  1. Finish all of my homework the day BEFORE it is due. My classes don’t start until 12:55 but I don’t want to spend my morning rushing to finish any last minute homework and not make it to the gym or be late to class.
  2. Go to the gym 5 (or more) days a week. I joined a club called CHAARG which is for girls who love working out and fitness and to liberate girls from the elliptical, so that will help with  keeping myself accountable, however, if #1 doesn’t succeed, me making it to the gym after class is a rarity
  3. Call or Facetime my family at least twice a month. I call my dad daily to rant about life and to tell him about my future husband I met this week, but I rarely call anyone else. A facetime during a weekend where I get to talk to my parents, sister, and my dog, of course, would be nice.
  4. Practice good hygiene. I’m good about this in the usual aspects: brushing my teeth, using soap, showering etc. however, my skin sometimes needs some TLC. I need to remember to wash my face twice a day and to put lotion on my face and body twice a day as well.
  5. Go to club meetings. One thing I didn’t do in San Diego was join clubs or hell, talk to more than 5 people, so this year, I am making it a habit of joining 3 clubs and going to as many of the meetings that my schedule permits because I want to make friends here, besides my roommate.

There were my September goals. Do you have any?

Alicia

Weird

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I feel weird. Ohio is weird. It’s my first night here and I just feel weird. Maybe it’s the fact that my sinuses are clogged beyond repair or maybe it’s because i feel like a speck of dust floating in the air, but I feel weird.

I am all moved in, my dad has come and gone, and my roommate and I have exchanged some small talk about our home lives and old schools.

However, as I sit here on my new bedding, looking at my tidy desk and 4 dorm walls where I’ll be spending a great deal of my next 9 months, I can’t help but feel weird.

This feeling is one I’ve felt before. It’s the feeling of being in a new place. When you don’t know what to do, so you float, you just float and float and float until you are given a routine or a task or a human plucks you from thin air and says you are not dust anymore.

I don’t want to be dust. I have 2 full days before school starts and I just feel like dust. Sunday will be fine with floor meetings and involvement fairs and scoping out classes.

But tomorrow, what will be of tomorrow? I might just go out and scope out campus, maybe grab a cup of coffee and write until my heart’s content. I don’t know what will be of tomorrow,  or the days and weeks to come after; but I know one thing: I do not want to be dust.

Back to school series: school year goals

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Finishing up my back to school series by doing something I love making; lists of goals. Whenever I start something new; a year, a school, a job, etc. I love making a little set of goals for myself. Here are my goals for school this semester

  1. Go to the gym 6 days a week
  2. Drink 64oz of water daily
  3. Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night- Usually, I’d want 8 but let’s be honest
  4. Finish all of my homework before the day it’s due- Usually pertaining to essays and studying
  5. Get 10,000 steps in daily- With my job on the opposite end of campus, this should be no problem
  6. Try not to skip class more than once a month- The goal is not missing at all but it’s bound to happen a few times a semester and that’s okay.
  7. Use my planner!
  8. Visit my professors at least once each- Nothing says dedicated like going to office hours no matter how small the question may seem
  9. Join an extracurricular  activity (or 6)- I’ve already got a few ones I I’d like to join, it just depends on whether or not they fit into my schedule
  10. Aim for Straight As
  11. Read a book or two that wasn’t assigned- I love reading but sometimes I find that Netflix and napping are higher on my list of priorities
  12. Save money

What are your goals for the next 6 months?

Alicia

Back to school series: essentials for your emergency bag

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Hi everyone, tomorrow I am leaving for Tennessee to see the total eclipse (yes, I’m pumped) so I’ll be queueing a post or two while I’m gone to finish up my back to school series because once I get back… I go back to school. I am super excited to go to school and my room looks like target and bed bath and beyond exploded in it. Nevertheless, Poppy and I can still make our way to my bed which, of course, it all that matters.

Now for the fun stuff. I’m usually known as the parents of the friend group because I’m prepared for everything (I’m only the dad too because I handle everyone’s money when we go out to eat). My backpack will be nothing short of a mom’s as well. In my backpack (or purse when school is not in session) I keep an emergency bag of things that may come in handy to me, a friend, or a random somebody in my Spanish class.

 

  1. Tampon/Pad– This one is sort of a given and you NEVER know when it may strike anyone while wearing white jeans.
  2. Bandaids- Whether you get a paper cut in class or stab yourself with a knife, having a band-aid (or 10) never hurts
  3. Tide stick- I have a long history of spilling on myself and cleaning it right away prevents staining and people thinking that I  don’t know where my mouth is.
  4. Hand Sanitizer- For before you eat or you touched a foreign sticky substance.
  5. Tissues- For when September comes and literally everyone starts getting sick
  6. Chapstick- To prevent triple lip in winter months
  7. Writing utensil- For when you lose yours or that really attractive human next to you needs one
  8. Safety pins/bobbie pins- For bad hair days or when your clothes just aren’t cooperating (not pictured because I used the ones I had and my containers of them are already packed away)
  9. Hair ties- When its lab day and your usual hair is missing or it breaks
  10. Brush/Comb- for windy days or class after the gym

Another thing I like to keep in my backpack is a sweatshirt or something for if you have a large spill or its freezing in a lecture hall

What do you always have on you no matter what??

Alicia

Back to school series: guide to moving in

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Officially one week until I leave for Ohio and 8 days until move in. In honor of this, I would like to share my guide to moving into college. Obviously, every college is different but I’ve talked to a few friends and we all agree that for the most part, these things are universal (at least at our schools). Move in can be a fun time but when you start to stress and your parent(s) does the same it can be less than enjoyable.

 

  1. Talk to your roommate(s) about what you are bringing- By doing this it can save you from having 2 printers or 2 vacuums or 2 of any bulk item really. Things like toilet paper and paper towels are fine to bring a lot of because they’re cheap, but why spend $200 on a printer when you don’t have to. Also, if your roommate is bringing something big offer to bring something else (my roommate is beginning a printer so I am bringing printer paper and ink).
  2. Talk to your roommate(s) about which side of the room you guys want- This may seem minuscule and odds are neither of you will care, however, trying to make a good first impression can set the tone for the entire year. Always be considerate to your roommate, even with the small things.
  3. Check before you arrive to see if your dorm has an elevator– This will drastically change how you pack. If your dorm has an elevator, odds are you can use bins to haul up all of your stuff to your dorm. However, if your dorm does not have one, you may want to enlist your siblings to come with and to pack a heck of a lot lighter.
  4. Check what you can put on your walls- Will command strips stick? Can you use nails? How much of your walls can be covered? All of these are really good questions to ask when packing for school and avoiding fees at the end of the year.
  5. Bring a door stop- If your door automatically locks, this makes it easier and quicker to open it with constant trips to and from the car. Also, if you keep your door open, people can stop and say hi while moving in so you can make a few new friends.
  6. Get there early- The earlier you arrive on campus, the fewer people that are there so you get first dibs on the move in carts and the elevator. Also, you’ll be done sooner which means you can relax and hang out with your family before they leave.
  7. Pack smartly- Pack desk items together, pack toiletries together, etc. It will make the unpacking and moving in a lot less painful if everything is sorted and neatly in its own place.
  8. Put your bedding on last- When you’re moving in, and your roommates are also moving in, the floor is not a safe space to put your things.When I moved in at San Diego, I threw everything on my bed and then unpacked accordingly. When I was done unpacking, I put my bedding on and then I’m all ready to relax… I mean study.

What other move in tips do you have to make move in day a breeze?

Alicia

Back to school series: back to school preparation

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Good afternoon all, and on this installment of my back to school series, I wanted to discuss some ways to prepare for going back to school, whether it be high school, college, grad school, etc. These are some things I find to be most helpful for me when getting ready for back to school

  • Get on a solid sleep schedule- As much as people love falling asleep at 6 am and waking up at 4 pm, in school, life that just doesn’t work. Start waking up and going to bed earlier and earlier until you are getting a sufficient amount of sleep with hours that work with your schedule.
  • Develop an exercise routine- As easy as it is to finish class or work and just want to go to bed, exercise is such a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy so no matter what type of exercise you do (walking, running, weight training, biking, etc.) make sure you get in at least 30 minutes every day.
  • Stay hydrated- This is a given but if you start drinking your 8 cups or so of water each day before school starts (and in general) you’ll be more inclined to be drinking enough water daily, without thinking.
  • Create a routine- Something that I love having down pact is a morning and nighttime routine. Whether you take an hour for a face treatment or you read before bed, having your routines set before school makes the transition from home to school such a breeze.
  • Set goals- Whether it be maintaining a certain GPA, joining a new club, or just going to more office hours, setting small goals along the way is a super helpful way to reach longterm goals (getting a job, graduating, etc.)
  • Use your planner and get ORGANIZED- My planner is my whole life during school. It tells me days off, tests and quizzes, homework assignments, club meetings, everything. Start using it before school and write down any assignments you know you’ll have or university days off so that when school starts you’ll have one less thing to do.

How do you prepare for back to school?
Alicia

Back to School Series: college misconceptions

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In the next few weeks, 18-year-olds across the country will be road tripping to their new home and beginning the next four years of their lives. When my dad and I flew out to San Diego 2 years ago, I was terrified, excited, nervous, and every emotion in between. The only thing I could base college off were the movies, and that certainly wasn’t easing my mind. To prevent current and future freshman (or transfers) from having their share of mental breakdowns, I’ve decided to compile a post of some misconceptions my friends and I had about college our freshmen year.

  1. High school prepares you for college- In high school I barely studied, missed school once every other week (or more), and didn’t really care about high school in general. I still maintained a 4.2 GPA all 4 years of high school. However, when I got to college I was in for a major shock. In college, you can’t skip class, you have to study, and you HAVE TO care. These things are vital to succeeding, graduating, and getting a job.
  2. Getting classes out of the way early is a good idea- No. I had an 8 am second semester and 2 9ams my first semester. I am a morning person, however, having to sit in a room with words and facts being spewed into your face for an hour really takes the life out of you. On my days where classes didn’t start until 10 or 11, I had much more energy and was able to get little tasks done in the morning like eating breakfast, going to the gym, and organizing myself.
  3. Midterms and finals are hell- If I’m being honest, they do suck. I won’t lie. Having to know a semester worth of information for 5-6 classes isn’t easy, however, it’s not the end of the world. If you’ve been reading your books, attending classes, and studying regularly, finals will be over before you know it.
  4. Everyone parties- This was probably my biggest fear entering freshman year. I’m usually very introverted and I don’t like large crowds (unless it’s a concert) and I’m  more conservative when it comes to attire… college parties are not the place for me. I did go out a few times freshman year (first weekend, halloweekend, etc.) but most of my friends and I didn’t go out most weekends and that’s okay.
  5. You won’t make any friends- Join a club or make study groups with people in your classes and you are guaranteed friends. Freshmen (any year really) are always looking for new people to talk to with similar interests. Go out of your comfort zone and start up a conversation and you’ll be sure to have a few new friends.
  6. The food is bad- I don’t know where this rumor started but the food at San Diego (And Ohio from what I’ve had) is really freaking good. There are professional and student cooks who make such a variety of different foods daily to please everyone’s palette. If you can’t find something you like, you aren’t looking.
  7. Greek life is everything- Greek life is a good way to make friends and be social, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t join a sorority. At my schools and most of my friends’ schools, Greek life is less than 10% of the student body. If you want to go Greek, do it!, But if not, don’t feel pressured.
  8. You’ll never leave the library- First semester, I went to the library twice and the only reason I was there was to print something because my printer broke. If your roommate is quiet enough and you don’t have a lot of group projects, you are given a really nice desk that can work just as well as the library.
  9. You have to know what you want to do as a freshman- Most people enter college with one idea of what they want to do and end up changing it one, two, or ten times before they really know what they want. Don’t fret if you enter undecided!
  10. People instantly mature when they get to college- Have you ever met a college boy?

To all the new college students, I hope this helps. What else are you nervous for or what were you nervous for before starting college?

Alicia

Back to School Series: college shopping list

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Hi everyone, sorry it’s been a bit since I’ve posted last. I’ve been getting ready for college and sleeping on the couch with Poppy so I’ve been exhausted. But, here I am, 9  days until I leave for Ohio, excited as ever.

Since I’ve been doing this whole shopping thing, I’ve decided that since I scoured the internet compiling dorm shopping lists, that I would make my own shopping list for people in college or people getting ready to head off to college. I hope you enjoy and let me know if there’s anything you would add.

Alicia

Back to school series: BTS playlist

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Hi everyone, I’ve made a few playlists in the past, and I’ve decided that back to school deserves its own playlist. I made 2 playlists: 1 of some pump up songs to get excited for the next 9 months and the other is an ironic playlist… which you’ll see when you take a look at it.

 

 

What are some songs that get you pumped for back to school or other new endeavours?

Alicia

 

Back to school series: class schedule

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Hi everyone. I’ve decided to do a little back to school series to get everyone just as pumped for the school year as I am. I figure I will kick this little series off with my class schedule for the fall semester. I am a Spanish Education and Spanish Language double major and I’m trying to minor in something but I’m not sure what that will be yet. So, until then, here are my classes for the semester.

For those of you wondering what all of the abbreviations and things mean.
MWF 1255-1:50 Intermediate Spanish 2
MTWF 200-2:55 Beginner Italian 1
MWF 305-4:00 Introduction to Psychology
M 515-8:20 Intoduction to Teacher Education
T 435-5:55 Transfer Learning Community Seminar
W 5:15-8:15 Technological Apps in Education

This class schedule isn’t ideal (unles I’m the biggest partier in the world… which I’m not), however, the 2 classes from 515-820 were mandatory and the only slots open so those had to stay. Also, in San Diego, I took 2 classes on Wednesday: one from 9-1140 and another from 4-640. I hardly ever went to the 4-640 class because after my 9am I would put my pajamas on, take a nap, go to the gym, and do everything I normally do after classes, and then when 330 would come, I would really really really not want to go to class, so half the time.. I didn’t. With this schedule I can wake up later, get lunch, breakfast, homework, and the gym in all before class starts. Then, on some days… I’ll have 7 hours of class, however it’s all in a rw so I have no excuse for missing a class.

Are you in school? What do your classes look like this semester?
Alicia

OU, Oh yeah!

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Hello friends. Sorry for my terrible posting habits I have created since returning from Peru. I sort of forgot about time management and my blog in general. However, over the coming weeks I do have quite a bit to share with you all about what has been going on in my life since returning from Peru and becoming reacquainted with my old routine.The first thing I want to discuss is college. As I mentioned a few posts back, I committed to Ohio University, in Athens Ohio. No, not Ohio State, just Ohio. Anyway, last week was my orientation (June 19th and 20th) so Sunday morning, bright and early, my dad and I made the 7 hour drive to Athens.

The first thing I want to discuss is college. As I mentioned a few posts back, I committed to Ohio University, in Athens Ohio. No, not Ohio State, just Ohio. Anyway, last week was my orientation (June 19th and 20th) so Sunday morning, bright and early, my dad and I made the 7 hour drive to Athens.

Upon arriving that afternoon, we checked into the dorm room we would be staying in, grabbed dinner, made a Walmart run to get some breakfast for the next morning, and tried to avoid being soaked by the pouring rain. The dorm we stayed in was quite large, about twice the size of my dorm in San Diego, it even included a sink so I could brush my teeth and wash my face without leaving the room.We went to bed super early because we had to wake up just as early as we had the day before to be ready for orientation (and my two placement tests).

We went to bed super early because we had to wake up just as early as we had the day before to be ready for orientation (and my two placement tests).

5:30 Monday morning (4:30 Chicago time) I hopped right out of bed, showered, ate breakfast, and headed out to check in and then made my way over to 2 different buildings to take my Spanish and Chemistry tests. I ended up scoring in the highest possible grouping for Chemistry and was 1 point away from getting to the highest possible Spanish placement. I won’t have to take anymore Chem classes (I hope) but I will be taking a bunch of Spanish.

After I completed both exams, I met back up with my dad who spent his free time walking around a resource fair. The rest of the morning was a blur, with so many speakers I couldn’t keep up. We were then separated from our parents and took a campus tour (my third), listened to more speakers, and then finally got a break for lunch where we were reunited with our parents. The food selection at Ohio is vast and they have tons of vegan options (the campus is ranked in the top 10 vegan friendly universities in the US). However, all good things must come to an end and the next 8 hours were torturous. We were placed in rooms that were far too cold, and then rooms that were far too hot, being forced to participate in group activities that we had all already done at our prior institutions (it was a full transfer student admissions day so no incoming freshmen were there to questions shower shoes and communal bathrooms), and we had to socialize. The socializing wasn’t horrible and I met some pretty nice girls who I hope I’ll be seeing more of in the fall.

Once we finally finished all of these mandatory (if we didn’t attend we would be unable to register for classes the next day) informational sessions, we had the opportunity to meet with our academic advisors. My academic advisor was less than helpful but it’s a good thing I’m self sufficient and can plan classes on my own (the rest of my group wasn’t as lucky).

When we were finally released for dinner I was able to reunite with my dad and we discussed all of the sessions from the long and tiring day.We retired for bed early again that night because we had to be out of our dorm by 7 the next morning, so after planning out my schedule and reading the piles and piles of information I was given that day, I called it a night.

The following morning, we showered, packed everything up, checked out of the dorm room, and then made our way over to the Union for another couple information sessions and then to register for classes. I had an hour between the sessions and my registration time so my dad and I used the free time to explore downtown Athens.

At around 9:45 I had to trek across campus to my advising session and my dad stayed back to write a letter to me and talk to the campus doctor. When I arrived at McCracken Hall, the home of the college of Education, I saw a sea of people all waiting to have their meetings. There were two people ahead of me still so I had a seat and talked to some of the girls I had met the day before for the next 45 minutes.

At 1030 (my appointment was at 10 but the company was nice so I couldn’t complain) I was able to schedule my classes. I am taking 6 classes: an intro to Psychology, Calculus, Spanish, Teacher Technology, Teacher Education, and a transfer course. I am pleased with my schedule and I have no classes on Thursday so hopefully I can get a job and work that day.

During my advising meeting, my advisor notified me that Ohio didn’t have my AP scores and the credits I completed simply weren’t there, so instead of graduating in 2.5 more years it could be as long as 3.5, so my dad and I rushed over to the admissions office to discuss this issue, only to find out my scores never sent, so I had to resend them. We then walked around campus a bit more, checked out my dorm, before finally making our way back to the car and returning to Illinois.

Now, there are about 2 months until I move in, and I have made a list of what I need to bring, contacted my suitemates, and am more than ready to start this new chapter in my life. OU Oh yeah!

Alicia

Renaissance Woman

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Hello everyone and happy Thursday to you all. It is currently 12:29 am and I am frivolously typing away on my keyboard, my sleep deprived eyes drooping every few clicks of the keys.

My entire life I have never wanted to do one thing. I have never been that girl who has wanted to be a surgeon or a teacher or an artist since she was 6 years. I wasn’t that girl who applied to two schools because they had the major she wanted and great internship and job opportunities, pertaining to her major, upon graduation.

I was the girl who wanted to be a princess, an artist, an actress, a writer, a  mathematician, an actuary, a business woman, a world traveler, a math teacher, a nutritionist, a marine biologist, an english teacher, and so many more by the time she was 18. I applied to over 15 schools because I couldn’t make up my mind about anything.

I always used to think this was because nothing interested me. I was a depression filled, anxiety ridden teen, who couldn’t be wooed by one thing or another.

It wasn’t that nothing interested me, it’s that everything interests me. There is not one thing I can see myself doing for the rest of my life, not because I want to do nothing, but because I want to do everything. I want to star in a hollywood production, see the aurora borealis, do someone’s taxes, invent something, learn about animals, and help a struggling teenager get into college.

There isn’t one job that fits me. I am a puzzle piece that fits into every puzzle while simultaneously doesn’t fit into any.

I think I keep thinking about this because I don’t want to transfer again. I need to pick Ohio or DePaul and I need to pick one soon. My grandfather keeps pressuring me to visit DePaul, call DePaul, look at DePaul’s website and so on, and it is making me want to rip my hair out.

What happens if I pick DePaul and then want to do something else with my life that DePaul doesn’t offer? Or if the same thing happens at Ohio.

As I lay in my blanket burrito, and as my anxious thoughts completely take over me, I wonder… why does no one else have this problem? Why did every single person I know apply to 5 or less colleges and then just pick one? No one transfered, no one waited until April 30th to make an admission decision, no one is laying in their bed, two years later trying to find a new school so they don’t make the same mistakes they had made two years prior.

The only sounds I hear are of a dog snoring next to me in bed (we are only watching her for a week… unfortunately) but inside my head is like a Final Four March Madness game.

Everyone keeps telling me that it doesn’t matter where you go to school, but let’s be honest… it does. I have to like it, it has to be affordable, and they have to have a major(s) that I like and want to pursue.

I like both schools and  once I get financial aid we will talk about affordability. However, the latter, the majors are what I’m coping with. The difference in majors along with my inability to make a commitment and stand by it are the reasons I am still up at 12:48am with a loud and messy head.

I keep weighing the pros and cons. Both schools have pros. Both have cons. Both pros outweigh the cons and there isn’t one that stands out to me. I think I need to just go to DePaul one day and then see if I can get back to Ohio for a few days to really see if I can picture myself on either campus.

Sorry for all the rambling but writing is my way of thinking.

On the bright side, just about 2 weeks till Peru. I have begun packing, and am talking to a girl about going to Machu Picchu over Easter. Half of my life is stressing about college and the other half is pure joy about going to Peru and volunteering. I guess that’s compromise for you…

Alicia

Day at DePaul

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Hi everyone, yesterday I had the opportunity to visit DePaul University (the second of my two college options). I live super close so I have been on/ around campus a few times (the vegan cupcake place I mentioned in a post last summer is less than a block from campus) but yesterday I went on an official tour (specifically crafted for transfer students… not sure how much it differs from the freshmen tour but it’s what I was told) of the campus. The weather in Chicago has been absolutely wonderful and completely out of character for February. It has been in the mid to upper 60s and low 70s for the past week (but no… global warming doesn’t exist) but of course yesterday was 40s and raining. Is that a sign from the God I don’t believe in? Kidding, but overall I enjoyed my visit to campus and am even more conflicted on my final college choice.

DePaul’s campus is pretty small (however there are two different campuses; one in Lincoln Park, which we visited yesterday, and one in the Loop) and everything is within a two block radius, unless I have to have classes at the Loop campus, which I will. Students are all given a ventra ticket with unlimited rides for this reason, so there is no cost for getting from class to class which is super nice for school days and also nice for going places on weekends.

For it being such a small campus, there are a plethora of places to go for relaxing, studying, eating, etc. I’ve been to campus a time or two before yesterday so I knew what the library looked like, where the union was, etc.but it was nice to be able to see all of the students in their natural habitats (I have only been on campus when school was not in session) and to be able to learn about buildings I never saw or the significance behind some of the statues on campus.

The tour was very personal and quaint. There were about 6 families and 4 groups of guides so my dad and I had our tour guide all to ourselves. Not that I had any questions, because I’ve done all my research online and I know how a meal plan works, but had I had any questions it would have been so easy to ask any type of question. It was thorough and very informational but also to the point and didn’t drag anything out too long.

All in all, I am now even more conflicted about my decision about college and will continue to make lists about both schools and when I receive my financial aid packages, I might get a better sense of where I want to be.

I can truly see myself at either school, which isn’t what I really wanted to happen. I sort of wanted one to stick out as a front runner but both schools have everything I need and more, and beautiful, and I feel like I fit in at either place.

Well, I’ll be here with my white board and a Venn diagram, ripping my hair out.

Alicia

A trip to Bobcat nation

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Hi everyone, well as I mentioned in a few of my most recent posts, I had a visit at Ohio University on Monday. My dad and I left for Ohio bright and early Sunday morning for the six and a half hour drive to Athens.

Now for those of you who live in the Midwest of the States, you can probably feel my pain on any long drive. There is nothing to look at except for corn, and when it isn’t the season for corn, you see dirt and the occasional small city with a population of 17. So, those six or so hours were agonizingly boring, however, we were able to boost the mood by listening to music and spotting some cows, horses, llamas, and the occasional cool barn. When we were about an hour or so away from Athens we began to see some hills and really cool rock forms on the side of the hill because we were getting closer to the Appalachian mountains. So, the end was at least pretty.

When we arrived in Athens, we checked into our hotel, stretched out for a bit because after driving for 7 hours all you want to do is get out of that damn car, and then left again to check out Athens.

Athens is a weird city. It has that small town feel but since it is also a college town, a ton of people live there. However, there wasn’t a Target so hypothetically if I attend that school, I’m going to have to deal with WalMart and Aldi, which isn’t great, but I’ll live.

I really didn’t feel like walking around, since we were getting a tour the next day, so my dad and I drove around the entire campus and then around Athens. This campus is very car accessible, meaning we could get to almost any point on campus by car (we later learned this is partially due to the 40 residence halls located all across campus), so we did. We drove all over campus and the surrounding area multiple times, checking out the football stadium, convocation center, the rec center, the student union, and a bunch of other buildings I don’t remember.

Although some of the buildings are over 200 years old, they are all in remarkable shape. The campus also has its original cobblestone roads from 200 years ago as well. My dad didn’t like driving on them, but they do add to the beauty and character of the campus.

After we drove around in circles, squares, triangles, ovals, and more, we decided to make our way to a Ruby Tuesday (which had one vegan option other than the salad bar) and then back to the hotel.

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Convocation Center Parking lot at sunset.

The next morning was the day of our tour, meeting with an undergraduate advisor, and then another 7 hours drive back home. The tour was super laid back, as was our tour guide because it was a tour of solely transfer students (me and another girl) and our parents. It was nice not to have to be with all of the incoming freshmen because we didn’t have to listen to their questions about shower shoes, and the freshman 15. We were able to see the library, the union, some other class and admin buildings, and then 2 dorms, an older dorm and a newer dorm, however, they were both in impeccable shape, no matter the year they were built.

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The walk back to our car. Didn’t get too many photos but the buildings are lovely

After our tour was over, we waited for the admissions advisor, which was sort of pointless. I thought she was going to have some information for me but it was basically just me thinking of random questions that I had already googled or could easily google. Nevertheless, she did give me a few resources to check out as I await for my big envelope in the mail, so it wasn’t terrible.

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See you (hopefully) soon Athens 🙂

After that, we got in the car, stopped at a gas station and were homebound. And after countless wrecks, a closed highway, a detour, and a few wrong turns (thank you apple maps) we were home with a big decision to make.

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We may have had a 20 mile detour but the sunset was well worth it

College update post Part… no clue

Published on by Alicia3 Comments

Hi, everyone. Well, with Peru approaching and then summer and then oh yeah, college, I have my decision narrowed down to two schools; Ohio University and Depaul University. I have yet to be admitted into either school because my high school screwed up my transcript requests and I wasted $18 for them to lose my forms so my applications weren’t finished until like a week ago… anyway, I am visiting Ohio on the 13th, and can really visit DePaul whenever since it’s so close.

As far as I know, I would be down with attending either school, and not that this is impacting my decision at all, Ohio is in the top 5 vegan-friendly universities in the country, something I hadn’t found out until I was exploring the campus’ website the other day.

Anyway, they both have a plethora of majors, because I have decided that I can’t choose what I want to do, because I want to do everything. I am a ‘Renaissance Man Woman’ wannabe. However, for when I change my major 85 times I’ll have the ability to because both schools have far more than that.

I’m visiting Ohio on a school day, and I really hope to do the same with DePaul because I feel that this is how you get a feel for the campus. When you can see all of the people you will be attending school with, you can see if you fit well on that campus.

When I visited San Diego State, I fell in love with the campus, from the smooth Spanish curves of the buildings, to the swaying palms, and how the sun cast so gorgeously across the entire campus.

What I didn’t see were the students. I visited the campus over my spring break, which coincidentally was their spring break as well. I didn’t get to gauge the student body and stalking the school’s Instagram’s page doesn’t do the best job.

When I got to State, I realized that I didn’t fit in with the student body, and I may have chosen a different school in the first place had I seen the school as a whole.

Basically, I just need to get accepted into the schools, figure out how much money I get from either school and then pick one (unless there is only one option, but I don’t really think there will be).

So, I’ll talk later about how my Ohio visit was and then my application status of both schools as I hear.

Until then,

I’ll be here, waiting to get out of this stuffy house and back to school before I claw my own eyes out. Whoever told me that once I took a break from school I would never want to go back, must never have taken a break from school themselves.

Alicia