Anyone that knew me during my junior year knew that I had my heart set on the University of Pittsburgh. At 17, I could not imagine being any farther than 2 hours from home. I even went to a my day at Pitt summer session in 2016! However, that all changed last summer when I realized that due to my inquisitive nature, I had to be bold and explore the country during my collegiate career. I decided I would stay on the east coast, so I would not be too far from home.

I applied to ten schools and soon, my search was narrowed down to three schools I wanted to attend equally: The University of Pittsburgh, Georgetown  University, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My Georgetown journey began with my mother’s influence. She had always wanted to attend GU and loved Washington D.C., the college’s location. I went to an information session in early fall and could easily picture myself as a bulldog. I was quickly scheduled for an alumni interview and the whole process went smoothly.

However, there was a problem with my GU application. They sent me an early action deferment when I had not applied early action! I took the whole situation as a sign that maybe GU was not the place for my undergraduate studies.

My love for UNC-CH grew from an early age. I vividly remember my aunt’s pharmacy graduation and I also admired my uncle who graduated a year prior. I was inspired to pursue a degree in medicine. It was not until later that I realized I could thrive and become a successful student at UNC-CH.

When I visited the campus in November, the students were on break and I got to get a feel for the campus when it was less crowded. From the moment we pulled onto Franklin Street, I knew UNC was the college I wanted to attend. My aunt and uncle showed me all of their hangout spots and shared their favorite memories while I toured with my family. Overall, I had a great experience on campus.

My hard work in high school paid off when I opened my acceptance email in February. I was overjoyed and immediately told my family members. At UNC, I plan on majoring in biology. I was offered acceptance into the school’s honors program, Honors Carolina, as well. I cannot wait to be involved in marching band and many more clubs and organizations that interest me. My college application journey proved to me that good things come to those who wait.