The college process can be a stressful one. Touring school after school hearing the same “special things” that each one has to offer gets annoying after a while. Finding a school you absolutely love is even more stressful because you have to look at all the minor details, because that is where you’re going to live for the next four years of your life.

You know which one is YOUR school as soon as you get on campus. You get out of your car, and look around and you just get this feeling. You know the feeling (“It’s like a warm blanket on a cold night.” -Mr. Orlinsky). When the campus tour you take doesn’t feel the same as the rest of them, that’s when you realize that this is your top school.

You go to the building where your major is located and you think: wow. I see myself spending a lot of time here. You feel like you’re home.
All these feelings are exactly what I felt when I first walked onto the Monmouth University campus. I was only a sophomore at the time so college wasn’t really a big thing in my mind. The only thing I could think about was “oh my gosh! Annie was filmed here!” When we checked into our tour, I stared admiringly at the beautiful architecture of Wilson Hall. Once the tour started, the only thing I kept saying to my mom was “this is beautiful. I want to go here.”

The more I toured other schools, the more I fell in love with Monmouth. It had everything I wanted in a school: it was the perfect distance from home, the communications building was fantastic, it was the perfect size and the dorms were so cute and perfect. I didn’t have my heart set on it, just in case the dreaded rejection letter came, but I was still looking at the bright side.

I decided to apply to Monmouth through the early action option to show that I was very interested in the school. Using that option would also let me know if I got in sooner than others.

December 19, 2016 was a day I would remember for the rest of my life. I have an advent calendar in my house for the countdown until Christmas, and apparently, it was my day to open the box. There was a small note that said “ask mom for the envelope that came in the mail today.” I was very confused not knowing what would happen. My mom starts looking through the pile of papers on our counter and hands me a big envelope with the words “Congratulations from Monmouth University!” I immediately started crying as I was handed the envelope.

I called and texted almost everyone I know and posted a picture on every social media account that I have. Everyone knew it was my top school so they were all over the moon when I told them the good news.

Learning that there is a Groupme for the accepted students made me even more excited about the school. I was able to communicate with some people and possibly find my future roommate.

Everyone sent their snapchat usernames in the chat so this one girl added 16 of us into a snapchat group. We snapchatted all day, everyday for a couple weeks when we all decided it was best to stop wasting data and move the snapchat group to texting. We all exchanged numbers and started texting in the group chat that’s now called “The Petty People of MU.” I’m fortunate enough to have been able to become close to Bri, Sav, Rob G, Rob V, AJ, Ryan, Em, Karly, Kira, Camryn, Aaima, and Grace. Going to the accepted students game and meeting most of these fabulous people made me love Monmouth even more and I’m so happy that I’ve been lucky enough to have been accepted into my top school and meet such great people.