* Originally written on Waegowaega 외고왜가 on April 5, 2007

Hi! I am a graduate of Daewon FLHS and going to an American university this September. Let me share here the dilemma I and many other prospective college freshmen are going through.

I am now faced with the moment of decision due May 1st: Which college is the best match for me? I had to answer this question much before when I was applying for Early Decision last year, though. I was deferred by Swarthmore for ED, and now got into Cornell, Swarthmore, Carnegie Mellon, Carleton, and NYU for RD. Getting a full list of RD acceptances which do not include my first choices, I struggle with one tremendously important conflict: Name value vs substantiality.

When I applied to Swarthmore for ED, my determination was soly driven by my strong belief in the school’s small, collaborative atmosphere and Mr. Hurt’s encouragement. Most people, especially those who are not very acquainted with American colleges, have never heard about the school and misjudged it as one of low-quality colleges. Despite my parents’ concerns, I valued its rigorous programs and a small community more than one other big criterion, the name value in Korea. But after all, I was deferred and so disappointed that I convinced myself that Swarthmore was not my destiny. Although I had researched for that school for months and made it my first choice, I, and my parents, started to think that I had to get into big name schools not Swarthmore.

So for RD, I set new first choices, which were Brown, Duke and Columbia, which had not only great academic programs but also top reputations. I could feel easily respected when I said I was applying to Ivy League and hardly doubted that I would not get accepted to any one of the eight Ivy League schools. But I was rejected by Brown and Columbia and was placed on a waitlist for Duke. Instead, I was admitted to Swarthmore, my former first choice, Carnegie Mellon, Carleton and NYU.

Time to make a decision! If I were pursuing only after reputation, I would definitely go to Cornell or consider NYU–because their prestige is exceedingly respected in Korea–but my guts say Swarthmore because I know that name value is nothing more than having me noticed for a while at the moment I have to say where I attend.

But I am still unsure about where to go and seriously considering Cornell and Swarthmore. I may have my answer, but it seems never easy to practice it, especially in Korea.