Where You Go to College

It's college season and the acceptances and rejections are in (including our own Atkinson Scholarship program decisions). We all get so caught up in it, it's easy to lose perspective.

Aja Frost, a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, wrote a great post for The Prospect, a college admissions and high school/college lifestyles website, directed to high school seniors about the 5 things that are more important than where you go to college.

Yes, she notes, “college is a REALLY. BIG. DEAL. But guess what? There are way, way, way bigger things in life than college, and sometimes it takes a little reflection to realize it.”

Here’s our abbreviated version of her wise thoughts:

1. Your Kindness

Personality is so much more telling about how well you'll do in life.

 2. Your Work Ethic

There isn't a single college in the world that will keep you at your job if you don't perform. Once you're employed, it all comes down to how you do once you're there

3. Your Family

They’re the one constant in your life. You can go to them for support, wisdom (sometimes...) and, obviously, love.

4. Your Reactions to Setbacks

If you can keep going even when the universe throws a big pile of yuck at you and then says, "What now, chump?", then you get all the awards.

5. Your Ability to Create Opportunities

One of the reasons society emphasizes where you go so much is because everyone assumes that going to a prestigious college gives you prestigious connections, prestigious opportunities and a prestigious resume. That's not an unfair assumption; however, another equally, if not more successful way of getting those things is to be a baller and generate 'em yourself.