There is a lifetime supply of quotations about following your dreams. There are far fewer, however, about the dangers of following these dreams too far. And this advice applies to college as well.​

I will admit that this is an uncomfortable topic. Instructing a student to set achievable goals and to reconsider attending a reach school can sometimes sound like curmudgeonly advice. After all, it may seem like you are being asked to abandon your dreams.

The truth is that the highest achievers reach success not by dreaming, but by doing. When an athlete breaks a world record, it is typically by a small margin. That tiny edge is the result of years of training. A champion, may have a dream that leads them to the Olympics, but they are prepared when they arrive.

Perhaps you followed your dreams while applying to college. Perhaps your reach school accepted you, as did several of your match and safety schools. You may well be a future academic Olympian, but success means finding the correct level of competition for you right now.

In other words, think about which of the schools that accepted you is truly best for you.

You can begin to answer this question by examining tangible data. For example, compare your GPA and test scores with the averages for your reach school. Being slightly below average may not be significant, but if your scores are much lower, you may be at a disadvantage when compared with your fellow students.

Consider if you were able to enroll in AP, honors, or IB classes while in high school, and if this sort of course work is common among freshmen at your reach school. Make sure you know if your AP or IB exam scores are sufficient to earn credit. And think about whether receiving a less-than-ideal grade at your reach school would motivate or upset you.

The degree of difference that counts as “significant” is ultimately your personal call. A GPA that is a tenth of a point below average is not especially concerning, but half a point could indicate a real disparity that you might struggle to overcome.

You should also consider time when making your decision. If you plan to work 20 or more hours a week while in college, your study time may be limited. You may be able to make up in hard work what you lack in preparation, but only if time permits.

If you decide to attend a reach school, you should plan to spend three or four hours studying for every hour in the classroom, compared with two or so hours of studying at a less challenging college.

Can you realistically commit to that much studying? Remember to factor in time for things like exercising, socializing and working.

Are you generally determined, or do you easily become stressed under pressure? It is tempting to believe that you can solve any problem by simply working harder, but there is a limit to human endurance, and no reach school is worth being miserable.

Finally, you should be able to articulate what the reach school offers that your other options do not. Maybe it is a uniquely perfect fit for you. Reasons may be that it has a major that you cannot find elsewhere, or a track record of placing students in amazing jobs.

If that’s the case, it may be worth the extra sacrifice. If your reach school is notable primarily for its reputation and not for elements that can help your personal goals, it may not justify the effort and resolve it will require.

Have the courage to make hard choices. Declining an offer from a reach school is difficult, and doing it for the right reasons can be even harder. The objective is to be reasonable and go with the option that best meets your present needs. When you can answer this question, submit your college deposit and get ready for the best four years of your life. Source Taken By/usnews.com