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While I'm compelled to say “all of the above” as my answer to this poll, it's hard to deny that money is a huge factor in my transition to college—both because it was a determinant in why I am here and because it is still a determinant as to if I will stay here. Issues of money have permeated into areas like starting new relationships as well, so in a way, it still affects me daily.

My transition into college was largely based off of financial aid—all of the colleges but two I applied to were ruled out simply for being too expensive. Ultimately, the best financial option (Bryn Mawr, of course) won out. Now that I'm here, finances are still on my mind, even as a freshman. Reading headlines like “US student debt now surpasses credit card debt” have put an added pressure on my life. I feel stressed to choose the “right” major that will get me a high paying job in the long run.

I came to Bryn Mawr because of its philosophy that college isn't just a means to an end. We go here because we have a love of learning. However, it almost feels like a luxury, maybe a little classed, to choose a major like art history or music (majors without specific or high paying career paths attached to them). I know that when I graduate, I don't have the luxury of parents paying off my student loans. I'll be on my own in an unpredictable job market in a country where upward mobility and the “american dream” are usually unattainable, even if we don't want to believe it's true. For this reason, it's hard to realize the hopeful vision of coming to college to simply discover myself and my passions. For me, being career oriented isn't something that can wait—it has to be a factor in every decision I make here.