"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing in the adventure with them."
~Denis Waitley, psychologist and author of "The Psychology of Winning" (1986, Berkeley).
Choosing the right college is not that different than deciding you're going to make the senior volleyball team or even win a gold medal at the Olympics. You have to start with your goals.
When you look ahead five or ten years, where will you be? What will you be doing? What will you have accomplished?
You might not be sure. That's okay, but it's worth the time to seriously think about what you love to do. Experts largely agree that the sooner you start, the better off you'll be. Eighth grade is the ideal time to start thinking seriously about your career and college path.
So, what could you see yourself doing in life that would never grow tiresome? Do you love math? Do you love fixing things? Do you love walking in the woods? Do you love baking cookies? Digging in the garden? Writing stories? Playing the drums? Running?
Chances are, there's a career and a college program that will let you do that thing professionally.
Still not sure what you want to be when you grow up? You're not alone. And believe it or not, you'll probably be asking yourself this question for the rest of your working life. It's part of the human condition to wonder if you're making the right choices, living up to your potential and doing all you can to make the most of life.
One word of advice: As you think about the direction your life will take, and the college program that will get you there, try to avoid thinking in absolute terms. Choosing a career or a college program isn't like buying a t-shirt at a "going out of business sale." There's a return policy. You can make a change. Setting your sights on a specicfic career will give you something concrete to aim for, but don't be hard on yourself if, in a couple years, you decide you'd rather do something else.
Our Top 5 List of Ways To Figure Out What I Want To Be When I Grow Up will help you think.
Need convincing that college is a good investment? Read our Top 5 list of reasons. Even though some people find success without college-level training, today's job market generally demands it.
Dr. Patrick O'Connor, past president of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and Director of College Counseling at Roeper School offers loads of advice and an invitation to email him at College Is Yours.
Your future is in college. Set your sights on an area of study that excites you and get ready to explore your options.