As decisions roll out, Magaly Guzman, finds herself debating between which schools to commit to. She’s caught between Amherst College, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California (USC)–all great choices. Between Amherst and Columbia, two schools on the East Coast, Guzman states, “Amherst’s tight knit relationships with professors is something drawing me in, while Columbia’s Core Curriculum is admirable as it’ll allow me to step out of my comfort zone and take classes I wouldn’t have taken before, maybe sparking a new passion for me.” Additionally, she adds, “I got into USC which was such a dream of mine growing up before I visited the east coast,” about USC, making it look like the East Coast is her future home.
Guzman believes that the East Coast is where she will end up because she wishes to “explore the unfamiliar to me and build upon my independence!” While making a decision between the two schools, Guzman is certain she will major in Biology but may explore other interests in political science and computer science.
When asked about her feelings of leaving home, Guzman answered, “It’ll definitely be hard not being able to rely on my family, but I’ve tried to be as independent as possible now in high school to better prepare myself for college. I will miss my family greatly, but what keeps me going is the fact that I am obtaining the higher education they weren’t able to. I am making my parents and myself proud.” Her ambition to pursue higher education, especially at a top institution, stems from wanting a better future for herself, representing her family in the process. Even though she’s eager to expand her wings and be on her own, Guzman believes that she may have issues with adjusting to the amount of freedom she has. She says, “You have to be disciplined but allow yourself to have fun and enjoy college. Balance is key, but it is hard to maintain.”
Despite the challenges she’s expected to face, Guzman is also eager to find herself through her college experience. “I’m excited to find my passion, my people, and myself. I’ve heard college is the time to find yourself, explore your likes and dislikes, and surround yourself with people who share the same values and morals.” She’s incredibly ready to start the next chapter in her life, and she’s excited to finally find herself in the real world.
For her parting advice to the underclassmen, Guzman said, “Lock In! Start a club you’re passionate about, run for a leadership position, study for SATs! All the hard work will feel rewarding when you open acceptance letters, trust me! Don’t overthink your essays, let it come to you, let it be authentic. Most importantly, stay open-minded. You can’t let a rejection from your “Dream School” control the way you go about college. Everything happens for a reason, better things will come.”
