Navigating College Decisions with a Family New to the Process
When I look back at my college admissions process, I am so beyond grateful to have had the emotional support of my family in my pursuit of an education overseas. Their encouragement and belief in me never wavered, even as we navigated an admissions system that was entirely new to my family.
The US college admissions process is, in many ways, uniquely complex. Between standardized tests, essays, financial aid applications, and acceptance timelines, it's a system that often feels convoluted even to those growing up within it. For my family, who had not been exposed to this system before, understanding its intricacies was a challenge.
When I received my Dartmouth acceptance at the end of the regular decision cycle, my parents' questions revolved around two key concerns.
Their major concern was for me to have access to stellar academics would make it "worth it" for me to travel across the ocean. My family and I were confident that Dartmouth situated itself as a small liberal arts, undergraduate-focused college with the robust resources of a large research university. Knowing that I wanted to get into research in my desired academic field—which I ended up doing over the past three years—Dartmouth's size and focus on the pursuit of knowledge immediately presented itself as an amazing fit for my aspirations.
The other piece of that puzzle was affordability. Given that Dartmouth had given me one of the most comprehensive financial aid packages out of those I received, I knew that an education at Dartmouth was possible regardless of my family's income.
A third aspect for my family, perhaps the least concrete out of the three, was simply how I felt about the prospect of going to the school of my choosing. I did not tour a single school before applying, so my impression of schools was informed by my interactions during online programming. Dartmouth's online programming ahead of decision day gave me a concrete idea of what my life at Dartmouth could look like, and that is when I knew committing to Dartmouth felt right. The day before the commitment deadline, me, my sister, and my dad gathered in front of my computer to officially commit to Dartmouth.

I am forever grateful for their support for my aspirations and—ultimately—their continued support throughout my undergraduate years at Dartmouth. Their trust in me allowed me to make the decision to commit to Dartmouth, and for that, I will always be thankful.