what school is right for you?

[adpiucf]

Apply to a school that has a broad range of majors and opportunities. At age 16, you may think now that you want to be a doctor or an artist, but that could change 5 or 10 or 20 times over the next 5 years! Leave yourself with plenty of options.

Some thoughts on schools you may want to consider in the areas you mentioned:

UGA
Mercer
Georgia Southern
Valdosta State
Emory
UT-K
U of Memphis

Among many others. Visit a variety of schools, stay overnight, talk to current students and alumni.

Know that it ok to come in as an undeclared major, and to change your major a few times. Take some diverse courses in high school and in your first few years of college that challenge your mind and stimulate new interests. Take on internships that show you what it would be like to work in the medical field, or as an artist/graphic designer/interior designer, event planner, teacher, etc. Experience is the best teacher!

Give yourself plenty of options and talk to a lot of students. You are doing a great job starting early. Best of luck!

I attended the U of Central Florida in Orlando, a state school that was far enough away from home, yet close enough to my family. It provided enough diverse course offerings, internship opportunities and student activities to keep me happy and I'm glad I chose to go there. When I started it was a smaller school, but has grown to become one of the largest schools in the country. Keep in mind that the school you start off attending may be very different 4 years later as a result of general growth and current events!

If you choose to stay within a few hours of your hometown, figure out how many miles away would make you comfortable and focus your efforts on 4 year schools with various programs that you would find interesting. Good luck!