December 05, 2022
After applying to colleges in the fall of my senior year, I applied to gap year programs. After being accepted to Michigan State University (MSU), I wrote the university a letter asking them to hold my spot until the next year, which they granted. During my gap year, I learned a lot about myself outside of the context of being a student, and I realized that attending MSU was a choice I made without really considering what would be best for me. I called my parents and told them I didn’t want to attend MSU the following year, and then I started to think about where I could go instead. I ended up choosing Wayne State University, and here’s why.
During my gap year, I spent a few months in San Francisco, and I discovered that I loved living in a city environment. After growing up in the suburbs, I felt energized by being around so many people. I also loved the access to local businesses that living in a city provides. It is fun to discover new places that become your favorite gems in the city. Your coffee shop, your local market, or your ice cream spot all shape the new world around you. At Wayne State, the beauty of Detroit and the Midtown neighborhood was part of my college experience. Also, as someone who wasn’t interested in sports or Greek life, I didn’t have to worry about those events being at the core of my campus life.
Photo Credit: Wayne State University
My parents live in Farmington Hills, and with a short drive down The Lodge, I can come home to have dinner, snuggle with my dog and cat, or even do a quick load of laundry. My parents can also come and visit me at my apartment or come with me to Eastern Market on a Saturday morning. Living in Detroit feels like a world away from the suburbs, but it’s close enough that I still get to enjoy time with my family.
It was also exciting that Wayne State offered me an academic scholarship based on my grades from high school. Those same grades and scores didn’t get me accepted into the University of Michigan and got me accepted to MSU with no scholarships, but they were highly valued at Wayne State. Being offered an opportunity to graduate with fewer student loans was something I felt very grateful for. As someone who didn’t value the school’s name as much as what my life would look like there, my scholarship was a driving factor for my parents and me as I reapplied to Wayne State after my gap year.
No matter what school you attend for undergrad, my advice would be to consider more than just where your friends may be going or which one holds more prestige. These things can be important, but when making a choice about what your day-to-day life will be for the next several years, it’s important to understand what things you value most. If you understand what you value most, it can help guide you in your decision and lead you to a thoughtful choice.
Written by Adina Shecter, Fall 2022 Let’s Detroit Campus Ambassador
