“Conveyor Belt of Love”? Not for Your College Decision

January 5th, 2010

Last night, I was falling asleep on the couch while watching TV. I mustered up the energy to change the channel at one point, but I must have fallen asleep again, because I had a crazy dream. In it, there were five women who were judging single men as they went by on a conveyor belt. If one intrigued them, the women would hold up an “Interested” sign; otherwise, it was “Not Interested.” Weird, right?

Unfortunately, this morning’s news blogs led me to discover that I did not have a dream, but instead experienced a few minutes of a new show on ABC called “Conveyor Belt of Love.” Really, ABC? You haven’t sunk low enough with “The Bachelor”? Whether this new offering will make for good TV is yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—conveyor belts are for efficiency, not for love.

What if you chose a college the way these women are looking for love? Imagine basing your college decisions on a 30-second skim of a website or a viewbook. What could you possibly learn about the place where you will spend the next four years? Just as looks can be deceiving when it comes to finding a mate, they can also be misleading when it comes to choosing a college. Consider some of the following shallow options for applying to a school:

The campus is beautiful. I went to Wagner College, which is considered by The Princeton Review as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. I appreciate this distinction, but it was not a factor in my decision to go there. In fact, even if it were the ugliest campus in the world, I would still have chosen Wagner because it was the best fit for my goals. I won’t name names, but some of the most unattractive campuses in this country also happen to be home to some of the best opportunities in higher education. And remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

It’s a “good” school. There are many college-bound students—maybe even you?—who will admit to applying to a school for the prestige of its name alone. And yes, there are many colleges, especially the Ivy League schools, that are undoubtedly “good.” But are the colleges to which you are applying good for you? Some of the best universities might not even have your intended major, so why bother applying? Some schools are in locations you might never even want to visit, let alone live there for four years. Make sure your list of “good” schools are also “good for me” schools.

My father/mother/etc. went there. Family traditions are awesome. I can name a dozen off the top of my head in which I am happy to participate. But family ties can be a little too tight when it comes to academics. It’s one thing, of course, if you want to go to the college of which your family members hold fond memories. However, if the idea of attending that school is causing you grief and anguish, it’s time to have a discussion with your family and inform them of your specific wishes and goals. This all assumes, of course, that you have already looked into your family’s alma mater and made an informed decision, not simply that you are rejecting it in an act of rebellion.

In short, you should give your college options more than just a once-over as they slide by on a conveyor belt. After all, you need to make it through four years, while “Conveyor Belt of Love” might not last long past the first episode.

–Barbara Bellesi

Entry Filed under: Advice,College Admissions,Just for Fun,Pop culture & college