By Praycious Wilson-Gay
Teen Arts Co-Editor
the Durham VOICE
thedurhamvoice@gmail.com
As the years pass, having a college education has become more important in society. As a sophomore, this is the year your college search really begins. When you’re a sophomore you take the PSAT. You can become a National Merit Scholar based on your PSAT score. This title will get you scholarships.
Praycious Wilson-Gay, self-portrait.
It’s also a time for you to figure out your interest and fit them into a major and a college that best fits those interests. There are many personality and career tests out there that will assists you in finding the correct major, job or type of college for you. The resources for you to succeed are out there it’s up for you to take charge.
As a girl who has an interest of going to school for the arts, I did some research on what the best art schools are, in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Reports rankings.
- Berklee College of Music
- Brown University Department of Theater Arts and Performance
- Cleveland Institute of Music
- Juilliard School
- New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
- New York University/Tisch School of the Arts
- University of California San Diego Theater and Dance Program
- University of Michigan/Department of Theater and Dance
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Even though my focus is in the Arts, I wanted to find out what the hardest schools to get into were and what their acceptance rate was of all students that apply. Here’s the top ten, according to huffingtonpost.com
- Harvard University- 6.92%
- Stanford University-7.18%
- Yale University-7.50%
- Princeton University-8.18%
- Columbia University-9.16%
- Brown University-9.30%
- M.I.T-9.69%
- Dartmouth College-11.53%
- University of Pennsylvania-14.22%
- Pomona College-14.48%
- Duke University-14.86%
These statistics made me feel slightly discouraged as I began my search. However, I have to remember that there are a lot of colleges out there. There is a college that will offer the most extraordinary learning and social experience of my life. I have numerous choices to choose from, and so do you.
Author Sidney Madwed stated, “If you want to be truly successful invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom.”
I will continue to search for the college that’s right for me. I will remember that quote. I will persevere. I encourage you to do the same.