Success Story: One Student's Tale of Success

Sarah Stich, a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder, felt deep down that she wanted to attend college in Colorado where she grew up. Her family hoped she would experience the excitement of living out of state. And her peers at Denver's East High School acted like going to school in state was "not the cool thing".

Working with a college counselor, Stich developed a list of about 30 schools—10 "reach" schools where acceptance might be a stretch, 10 "mid-range" schools and 10 sure bets. She looked at all the viewbooks, listened to what other kids liked, and narrowed her list to eight schools where she applied.

Stich received six acceptance packets. Narrowing her list further to four schools, she and her dad boarded airplanes and began to visit. Nothing about any of the schools she explored made her fall in love.

Just 45 minutes away from the house where she grew up, the University of Colorado was close enough for weekend visits but far enough away for independence. She would already know some people but have a fresh start too. So she sent in her deposit.

"Going out of state just wasn't me," Stich said after her first semester. "I'm very close to my family, and I want to be able to go home if I want to. I feel I made the right decision. When you go to a school, you feel it. You'll know if it's right for you."

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