If there is one saying that I can fully get behind, it’s that “life imitates art far more than art imitates life”. It’s an Oscar Wilde quote, so it must be true. But don’t worry, I also have empirical, real-life evidence to back it up. After all, my college decision process was eerily similar to one of the highest and most respected forms of art there is: Hallmark Christmas movies.
Now, before I lose you, please know that I did not take this realization lightly. It was never my intention to become the main character of a rom-com, nor was it to have an institution of higher learning cast as my love interest, but I guess we all have our cross to bear. Here is the (mostly true) story of how I chose my future alma mater.
Step One: Plucky Young Lead Is Living Her Big Girl Dreams™
At the start of this process, I never would have thought that I would end up at Miami University. In my freshman year of high school, my dream career was to enter the field of publishing, which is known for being a cutthroat (and vastly underpaid) industry. Nevertheless, I knew I would succeed, if only I could have the right education behind me. At the time, that “right education” would be any place in a big city, since the big cities are where the publishing houses are. NYU, with its famous English program and excellent internships, seemed to me the pinnacle of college hopes and dreams. So there I was, your Plucky Young Lead, attempting to break free from the comforts of my little midwestern town.
Step Two: Girl Is Forced to The Middle of Nowhere
But then I did a grand tour of the Ohio schools, mainly to check out what I liked and didn’t like. One of those stops took four hours to get to, a drive that was filled with cornfields, the occasional dairy farm, and, (you guessed it!) more cornfields. Eventually, though, I arrived in Oxford, Ohio, where Miami University presides. It was a gorgeous small town, chock full of brick buildings, large trees, carefully manicured grounds, and an adorable high street that boasted a variety of restaurants. Still, I was determined to try something different, preferably a city, even if I secretly loved the college-town atmosphere and aesthetics of it all.
Step Three: She Learns The True Meaning of Christmas
Now, this is the part of the Hallmark movie that is best expressed in script form.
[CUE MONTAGE]
[An up-beat, vaguely inspirational pop song plays]
Cut to PLUCKY YOUNG LEAD attending a variety of college events
These should include a HOCKEY GAME,meetings with PROFESSORS,and DORM TOURS
PLUCKY YOUNG LEAD visibly changes from skeptical to happy… maybe she loves it here?
IN EACH SCENE, P.Y.L. ACCUMULATES MORE AND MORE MIAMI GEAR, TO THE POINT OF RIDICULOUSNESS
[FADE TO BLACK]
END SCENE
Step Four: Third Act Breakup
No cheesy rom-com is complete without a third act breakup. For me, the third act breakup came in the form of money. I was incredibly blessed to receive merit aid from Miami University, but the school was not my cheapest option. It’s hard to look past that, especially because I don’t really fancy myself going into thousands of dollars in debt. In my head, I paced from option to option, wondering if I should settle for a school that I didn’t feel connected with but was cheaper, a school that was more prestigious in name but out of touch with my needs, or my first love. For someone who thought I would have a school picked out by New Years, it was hard to wait an additional four months- most of that time I spent applying to scholarship after scholarship and writing letters of appeal for aid packages.
Step Five: Plucky Young Lead Moves to Middle of Nowhere
Still, we get our happy ending. After maybe a million walks with my mom, some light soul-searching, and plenty of tears (It is raining. PLUCKY YOUNG LEAD looks out the window, a single tear dropping down her face), I decided to go with my gut. I can truly see myself at Miami University, and while it’s not the perfect fit for everyone, it’s the perfect fit for me. Over spring break, I officially put down my deposit and signed on to be a Redhawk. Shortly after, I made it in my first (but hopefully not last) study abroad program, meaning that this epilogue is taking place in Portugal. There are still a few strings to wrap up (don’t even get me started on the roommate situation), but what’s a Hallmark movie without a few unresolved plot points? The main focus here is on our Heroine, who is making the best decision that she can with what she was given.
Step Six: Tasteful Party
So here we are. My college decision process, of course, took a lot more effort and energy than a single rom-com plot structure can convey, but overall, I think the similarities are hilariously apparent. It’s been a joy to see so many of my friends follow their own rom-com paths with their schools, whether that be love at first sight, a marriage of convenience, or maybe even an enemies to lovers scenario (yes, Sophia, that’s about you). If I have one piece of advice for those about to embark on this scary yet exciting time, it’s to not let anyone else’s priorities sway your own. This is your life, and even if it resembles shockingly low-budget, cult classic-like events, it’s still yours. Best of luck to you. Cue the music!
