From Admission Counselor to Student: How We Chose Our Alma Maters
Senior year. The excitement, the emotions, the cumulation of four years coming to a bittersweet end. As you begin to savor these last moments as a high school senior and see all of your hard work coming to fruition, lingering in the back of your mind is the constant battle of deciding what school you’ll be committing to for the next four years of your life.
We know how it feels because we’ve been there too. Between the constant pressures of our parents telling us to stay close to home and the endless amount of college emails flooding your inbox inviting you onto campus just to say yes to them, we understand that choosing where to call your home-away-from-home isn’t as simple and straightforward as others may think. You aren’t a psychic using a crystal ball to look into the future and see which is your perfect fit. You’re essentially a contestant on a game show trying to figure out whether you’re choosing Door #1 or Door #2 in the hopes that the best four years of your life will be behind the one you correctly select.
We were all in your shoes at one point in our lives. So, we decided to share our experiences, as admission counselors, with you all to hopefully make that decision slightly easier.
The following responses are from nine of our admission counselors, some of which attended and did not attend USC.
What was the most important factor that influenced your decision on where you were possibly committing to?
“I wanted to attend a school where I knew I’d receive a top-tier education, but also one that offered the resources and support I might need if I ever felt stressed or needed guidance throughout my academic journey. As a first-generation college student, that was especially important to me. I also fell in love with how close the beach is to campus—it gave me the perfect place to relax and recharge when I needed a break from school. On top of that, I wanted a campus that was walkable or bike-friendly, since I didn’t know how to drive at the time, and UCSB offered exactly that.” - Adriana Serrano
“The most important factor was cost. I was only going to a school where I received a full scholarship for football. It came down to 3-4 schools and then location factored in.” - TJ King
“One of the biggest factors was, of course, financial aid - coming from a low-income immigrant family, I knew that my parents would be limited in supporting me financially and I didn't want to add that additional burden on them.” - Leslie Escobedo
“The type of people I was going to be surrounding myself with and learning with/from. College is one of the rare times in your life that you're surrounded by so many different, passionate, and intelligent folks in their area of study.” - Simon Chow
“As a first-gen student coming from a rural area, I knew that I needed to be in a residential, college-town environment in order to thrive. I wanted to go to a school that would give me the true "collegiate" experience. Attending a Big10 school gave me the opportunity to also be a part of a community with plenty of school spirit, and that played into the type of community I was seeking.” - Lilly Wright
Did you ever visit your alma mater before committing?
Of those that did, how did that experience influence your decision?
“Yes! Visiting allowed me to see the campus culture a little better and envision myself on campus. It also allowed me to connect with a current student tour guide that helped me see the type of students currently attending USC.” - Audrey Burba
“Yes, the Bowdoin Open House Experience connected me to folks that I know will support and believe in me during the time I was there. I was also able to meet students with similar backgrounds, and even though they didn't end up going to Bowdoin, we stayed in touch!” - Simon Chow
“I visited Berkeley for the first time in the 10th grade and had the opportunity to visit for 3 consecutive years. This allowed me to get a better feel for the campus and helped me envision myself there for my undergraduate career.” - Pablo Cruz
“I knew that I was meant to attend IU the moment I visited campus. I paid attention to the little things and thought a lot about what my daily life would look like as a student. Walking around campus, visiting class buildings, sitting in coffee shops- all of this played a significant role in my decision-making.” - Lilly Wright
“Visiting USC allowed me to envision myself as a student on campus and opened my eyes to all of the exciting opportunities available to USC students.” - Rocco Blum
What were some hesitations you had prior to committing to a school?
“I had three major concerns: the first being the distance. My dad was sick at the time, and I wanted to go somewhere that allowed for my family to see me play regularly. Second, I had a bit of imposter syndrome. Most of the schools recruiting me had strong academic reputations and I questioned if I could be successful at these places. Last but not least was the thought that I wouldn't be achieving all my athletic goals. Do I go to a community college first before trying to transfer and play at a Pac 12 school? These were the questions that kept me up my senior year.” - TJ King
“Finances were definitely a big part of my decision to commit to a school. I was initially worried about the cost of USC when I got my acceptance, but after I received my financial aid package, I found that it was much more manageable than I expected which was a pleasant surprise. USC offered a lot more university aid and did meet my family's financial needs.” - Rachel Cho
“I was worried about being so far from home and spending my college years in a city that I wasn't very familiar with. However, I quickly grew to love Los Angeles and still found many opportunities to return home (or have my family visit me!) during my four years at USC.” - Rocco Blum
“Definitely financial aid and proximity to home. I wanted to be semi-close to home as I had some responsibilities that tied me closer to my family.” - Audrey Burba
“One of my biggest concerns before committing to college was how I would afford it. As the first in my family to attend college, my parents didn’t know where to begin. Fortunately, with the support of advisors and mentors, I was able to apply for several scholarships and even seek out donations to help fund my education. That support was something I could rely on both before enrolling and throughout my time at UCSB.” - Adriana Serrano
What made you say "yes" to your school?
“At the end of the day, I fell in love with USC's campus and was beyond excited to participate in all the amazing classes, clubs, and off-campus opportunities. USC also offered me a generous merit scholarship that made it a more affordable option for my family.” - Rocco Blum
“The moment I was accepted, I received a lot of communication and support which made me feel even more excited about attending my school. I knew I would receive plenty of support as a student as well.” - Lilly Wright
“The proximity to home, the resources for students, business school opportunities, and financial aid.” - Audrey Burba
“I had grown up hearing about USC from friends and family and I knew it was a dream school for me. That combined with the proximity to home/friends/family and the financial aid package working out made it a no brainer.” - Rachel Cho
“Everything. History, academics, athletics, location, and being close but far enough from home.” - Pablo Cruz
“The connections I made, the financial aid package they gave me (essentially full ride with no loans), and a new adventure to look forward to in Maine.” - Simon Chow
“Cheesy as it sounds but feeling like I belonged when I visited campus - I genuinely saw myself within the community without even putting much thought into it. Aside from that, getting enough financial aid for all 4 years” - Leslie Escobedo
“Location was a huge factor for me—I loved that UCSB is right by the beach. It was also the perfect distance from home: far enough to feel independent, but close enough that I could go back if I ever needed to.” - Adriana Serrano
“Ultimately, Davis offered me a full-ride and was close enough for my parents to visit most home games.” - TJ King
Do you have any regrets about where you committed to?
“I don't have any regrets about my college decision, but I do regret not taking advantage of all of the resources that USC had during my undergraduate years. Looking back, I wish I had joined more clubs, taken more fun classes, and talked to more students/faculty on campus!” - Rachel Cho
“No regrets at all! I do wish I had applied to more schools—especially some reach schools—just to see where I might have been accepted and to give myself more options. That said, I truly believe UCSB was the right fit for me. It was far enough from home to give me independence, but still close to the beach where I could unwind or go for a run anytime.” - Adriana Serrano
“My only regret is not getting involved a little bit sooner. I also semi regret my major and while I appreciate everything I learned, I feel that after learning of all the offerings, I didn’t have to stick to my major and could have switched.” - Audrey Burba
“No regrets! I met some of my closest friends.” - TJ King
“Nope - everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I found my best friends for life (still with them 'til this day), made incredible memories, and grew so much as an individual. I wouldn’t change a thing” - Leslie Escobedo
“No regrets, if I could, I would do it all over again.” - Pablo Cruz
“I do not regret my decision at all! I loved every minute of my undergraduate years at USC.” - Rocco Blum
“I have some--I wish I had prepared better for a school far away from home. I missed ethnic food, I missed the friends I grew up with, I missed my neighborhood and came back to it much more gentrified and different. But I realized that what I missed was a part of me too, and I learned to nurture it. The friends meant for you stick around anyways. I learned to cook and appreciate the ethnic food I missed.” - Simon Chow
What's the best piece of advice you have for students deciding where to commit to?
“Choose what is best for YOU. At the end of the day, it is going to be you attending your lectures, you eating in the dining halls, and you having to do all-nighters trying to finish your assignments. So why not do it at a place where you feel happy to be at?” - Pablo Cruz
“There is a school out there that's going to be a good fit for you- there might even be multiple schools that are a great fit! Don't limit yourself to just one school based on what people around you are saying and really explore your options before making your decision.” - Rachel Cho
“If you can get to campus, please do. I think you'll know pretty soon if you can see yourself amongst that student body and culture, but ultimately the secret to college success is you, and not the institution.” - TJ King
“Look at older folks at the institution, whether it be student leaders on campus, alumni, or professors--do you want to learn from them? How can they make you a better, more knowledgeable, and compassionate person? No place is perfect, so see with the utmost truth what stands before you and go from there. At the end of the day, you have to make a decision. Then, you begin to live with it.” - Simon Chow
“Cannot stress this enough but truly listen to your heart. Aside from the rankings and prestige, wherever you go, you'll get a great education. However, focus on seeing if you can call that school your home-away-from-home for the next four years. Look to see if those schools are going to support you academically, personally, and give you the resources to be successful. Lastly, know that it's going to be okay and give yourself that love and kindness in getting to this point in your life!” - Leslie Escobedo
“Once you've received all your admission decisions after months of waiting patiently, the power is now in your hands! Don't feel obligated to rush such an important decision. Instead, take the time to shop around, visit campuses, ask questions, and find the college or university that is truly the best fit for you!” - Rocco Blum
“Do your research, visit if you can, and don’t feel like you have to stay in a specific major or institution long term if you feel it isn’t the best fit after all! You always have options and there are many different ways to get on the same path!” - Audrey Burba
“"I’d say, do your best to visit the schools you're considering if you can. When you're there, ask yourself—can I truly see myself living here, going to class, and being part of this community? Once you’re admitted and walking around campus, you’ll often get a gut feeling about whether it’s the right place for you. Also, take time to consider practical factors like how far it is from home, what kind of town it’s in, and what kind of environment you thrive in. In other words, reflect on what you like and dislike—that kind of self-assessment can really help guide your decision." - Adriana Serrano
“Remember that at the end of the day, it is your decision, and you should feel empowered to take this big step for your future!” - Lilly Wright
Regardless of what your decision is, we know that your future is bright. Best of luck and enjoy this next chapter of your life!
Written by: Leslie Escobedo, Assistant Director, USC Office of Undergraduate Admission