I was unsure too. My sister goes to Georgia Tech so for the longest time I didn’t like UGA just for that reason. I didn’t necessarily hate the South but I sure as hell didn’t love it either. I saw college as my opportunity to broaden my horizons and get out of there. UGA was the only place I applied to in Georgia and it was only to appease my parents. I applied to universities all over the country - Syracuse, NYU, Emerson, FSU, USC, Texas, Pepperdine, Indiana, BU and Elon. I got in everywhere but USC.
I was really interested in studying journalism in college - broadcasting to be specific - and everyone I knew kept telling me about how awesome UGA’s program was. I always rolled my eyes because I thought they were only saying that because my mom told them too. I visited some of those universities and loved some (Elon has a gorgeous campus, Emerson and NYU are fantastic schools but don’t have a very strong communications program) and hated some (Syracuse is so cold and gray - it’s just depressing).
And I got into UGA and decided I should probably visit there just to appease my parents so they don’t think I wasn’t just throwing that option out of the window because it was their choice for me (I kind of was) and so I went to this session for “undecided Dawgs” where we had a tour led by students, informational session with the school of our choice (Grady) and were able to talk to some students from the school. And as much as I hated to admit it, I kind of loved it. The campus is gorgeous. There is so much green and the buildings look so nice, clean and elegant. It’s not mismatched like Syracuse. There are so many different types of people here I had no worries about fitting in.
Athens is such a great college town too - although you probably already know that. And then I found out that UGA had one of the best journalism schools in the country - only behind Northwestern and Columbia. That is what really sold me.
My biggest concern was that I would be with the same people I was with in high school and I really didn’t want that. I didn’t have good experiences with some of them so I was afraid that college would just be another version of high school but then everyone assured me that after first semester, I wouldn’t see them unless I went out of my way too. And it’s true. I really haven’t seen many of them. I have a few in my sorority and a class with maybe two of them but besides that, nothing.
UGA is such a great school and I am so glad I went there. I have no idea if this was what you were expecting in a response, I really doubt it - I wasn’t even expecting to write such a long response, but once I started writing, I just couldn’t stop. I really love UGA and wanted to share my story with you.
In the end, choosing where you go to college should be your decision. Talk to people and ask them questions about the school but don’t let their stories and opinions make or break the school. At the end of the day, it should be your heart that you listen to (sounds so cheesy but it’s true). This where you are going to be for at least the next four years - it is your experience, not anyone else’s. So make it count. As long as you do that, it should be the best four years of your life.
