As high school seniors begin the grueling process of deciding which university to place their future and money in, I thought it might be nice to answer the question I get weekly: Why did I, coming from Utah, decide on NC State? I suppose my story is compelling, particularly for out-of-staters who just can’t be sure what sets NC State apart from any other out-of-state school. Allow me to dispel the mists of uncertainty.
When my acceptances (and, yes, rejections) came rolling in, I had a lot to consider. My parents were surprisingly unhelpful. They have always encouraged me to make my own decisions carefully, and then they offer guidance where necessary. It was impossible to read them. I knew they were probably nervous about out-of-state tuition, but I also knew that my mom wanted me to have the opportunities to grow and learn that she thought I couldn’t have where I lived. I was offered a partial scholarship to one school and a full-ride to another, but I didn’t feel that either offered exactly what I wanted. Actually, if I’m honest, I didn’t know enough to know what I wanted from a university!
It came down to two schools. One was a couple hours from my home. The other was NC State. The day before the commitment deadline, I still hadn’t decided. I had visited and enjoyed Raleigh, but it was an awfully big commitment to move so far!
I finally sat my parents down and told them my decision. I was going to go to NC State. When I told them, I felt this intense confidence in my decision. My parents asked me what had made me decide. I told them all the reasons that I had weighed in my head.
- Raleigh is a fabulous city. It’s not so big that you can get lost, but it’s big enough that there’s always something to do. Downtown is fabulous. Unlike so many downtown’s, there is always somewhere to park! There are restaurants, clubs, and museums aplenty. And right up the road, there’s a huge farmer’s market!
- The Raleigh-Cary-Durham area is one of the most educated regions in the country. If I truly hoped to become an intelligent human being, it was a good idea to surround myself with intelligent people!
- After speaking with people in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, where I would be as an English major, I was confident that there was a huge range of opportunities available to me – minors and internships and various programs.
- I love the brick-y, collegiate feeling of NC State’s campus! I love the buildings, and Hillsborough Street, and the Belltower.
Now, in my third year here, I can comfortably say that choosing NC State was the best decision I’ve made because it has opened so many doors for me and given me so many good friends. When making your decision, remember that high risk = high reward!