- You know, it's always important to remember
the good times (laughs).
Happy Tuesday!
Clicky. Clicky.
Double clicky.
Hey guys, this week on right now,
we are going to be talking about applying to college.
Now, there are lots of different reasons
to apply to college or not apply to college.
Some of you might be like,
"Why would I apply to school when it definitely,
"definitely, definitely does not guarantee me a job
"in the major of my choice?"
So why apply to college at all?
Here are some reasons why you might want to apply.
For me, college was a deeply important experience,
not only academically, but socially, and personally.
Not only did I discover more about myself,
I was given the opportunity to actually just be myself.
Which I think is so incredibly important.
What school you go to, where you go to,
how much prestige and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
doesn't really matter so much as the experience
that you are going to get out of it.
And hopefully, that experience is taking yourself seriously
and pursuing your own happiness.
So that's all the wonderful stuff
about actually going to college,
but how did I get there?
It was not of my own motivation.
I had guidance counselors, some dedicated teachers,
and some good friends
who really, really, really encouraged me to go to college
by saying things like,
"You deserve to give yourself a chance."
"I believe you can do it."
"Well, do you want to?"
"If you want to, then you should try and go."
And many, many, many, many more sentences like that.
So, just in case some of you don't have people
like that in your life,
telling you those encouraging things,
you know, please watch this video like six times
and get yourself going.
So that's encouragement to get there.
Let's talk specifically about filling out applications
which can be as daunting as mustering up the energy
to even try at all.
The written portion of a college application
essentially has these three sections.
One, tell us your entire life story.
Two, why do you want to go to this school?
And three, something about the major specifically.
Question number one is super, super hard.
How are you supposed to tell your entire life story
in 200 to 650 words?
And, there's always that crippling self-doubt of
who even wants to hear my life story anyway?
Stop!
Being emo about this is not gonna help you
get your application done,
so you are worth it.
People are interested.
They're asking the question,
because they want an answer.
So some advice for the whole write your life story
in 650 words or less thing is this,
what really helped me
was I wrote "Shitty First Draft" at the top.
And then I just dumped some stuff out.
And if you don't have anyone in your immediate proximity
that you can talk to about this,
go to the internet!
Leave comments at the comments below.
Write about it!
You guys are a wonderful community.
Talk to each other, encourage each other.
Let's take over the world.
Sorry, sorry, sorry. Oh man, yeah, sorry.
Download the app.
The next question.
Why do you want to go to this school, specifically?
Now this'll change for every school you're applying to
so you might want to really think strategically.
For instance, read the description of your school.
Be like, well, I really think that fits with me.
This one's kind of a bullshit answer, so you know,
just try and make it work.
There's like tips and tricks.
But you know, sincerely, and authentically to you,
strategically try to answer this question
in a way that fits in with the school's MO.
Shitty first draft.
And question number three,
what appeals to you about the major, specifically,
not just the school?
Now, this answer, kind of like your first answer
will be your swap answer.
So you can put it on a lot of different applications
if you're applying to the same major
at a lot of different schools.
So that's where you really just kind
of get to explain what it is about the subject
that makes you feel passionate.
For instance, if you're like,
I really want to study anthropology.
Do I want to become an anthropologist?
No, but learning about peoples and different peoples
throughout the history of time
sounds fuckin' fascinating!
So just jizz all over the keyboard about that.
This video, Hannah, come on!
Clean it up.
Now, some people won't be able
to show this in their classrooms
just 'cause you used the word "jizz".
And you said it again!
What are you doing?
Shitty first draft.
Anyway guys, most college applications,
I think are due some time in April,
but you can also send in your applications by January,
which is encouraged.
I just want to let you guys know
that the only reason I got to go to college
was because I was surrounded by people
who were lifting me up and supporting me
and encouraging me to go.
I am deeply, and permanently, forever indebted
to those teachers, those guidance counselors,
and those friends in my life
that encouraged me when I didn't have
the tools to encourage myself.
Applying for college can be tough.
Leaving high school can be tough.
But this is where you get to start to establish
the patterns for your life.
Do you want the pattern of believing in yourself
and giving yourself a chance?
Last but not least,
if you don't get into your first school of your choice,
don't worry about it.
That might happen.
That really, really might happen.
But you've got to, where's my cup?
Practice reckless optimism, and accept that
if it doesn't happen, you're going to be fine anyway.
What has happened,
is that you've listened to what you want
and you've acted on it.
How great is that?
So yeah, that's my speech, I guess.
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm!
What else was I gonna say?
I guess that's it for now, guys.
Thank you so much for watching.
If you guys want to continue the conversation,
please leave a comment in the comments below,
or go talk about it in the Hartland
by downloading the Hartland app.
Just so you know,
on Thursday, I'll be announcing
the winner of our new
Practice Reckless Optimist coffee mugs.
So if you haven't yet submitted your breakfast optimism,
there's still a chance.
So download the app and submit away.
Yay, submission!
(laughs)
Hannah.
Anyway, guys, have a great day.
(blows kiss)