Beyond the Applications: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting College

By Brooke Guillaume, Texas Christian University ‘28

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At age 17, I dedicated the majority of my senior year to securing admission to my dream college. The multiple practice SAT/ACTs, extensive evaluation of admissions statistics, and careful reflections on a wide variety of campuses nearly felt endless. If I hadn’t had Within Reach, I don’t know if I could have maintained the momentum and organization needed to meet my end goal. I owe it to their guidance, support, and diligence for helping me navigate to my new purple home at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas!

Now that I am a rising junior, I realize there are a few key logistical tips I wish I had known as I entered my freshman year. For example, I wish I had known to plan for one more class on my schedule, just in case, which would have compensated for dropping a practically impossible class outside of my intended major. TCU is a liberal arts college, so students are required to complete a certain number of core class hours that don’t apply to our major; rather, they contribute to our diploma receipt. If I had added another class during that spring semester, it would have been one less core credit needed down the road when my classes became more advanced and intense. I also wish I had known of my school’s great resources available to students, like the writing center, which has helped me tremendously in group projects and individual assignments. Finally, I wish I had taken more advantage of my professors’ office hours, particularly for my Calculus class! Because I have a better feel for these resources now, I plan to use them extensively these next two years and even post-graduation.

I think the biggest lessons I learned these past two years have been about balancing my social, academic, and personal life. Freshman year was filled with a lot of “yeses”! During the first couple weeks of my time at TCU, I volunteered as social chairman for my sorority. I had no idea the work this would entail: planning parties, organizing events, and creating elaborate scenery and props. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this job as it allowed me to meet so many people I never would have come across before. The same goes for my desire to get involved in the Neeley School of Business, as I made some forever friends during guest speakers, fireside chats, and brainstorm circles.

As I got more engaged on campus, my social life expanded from girls living near me in my dorm, to a new pledge class of 88 in my sorority, and then a whole new lineup of friends from my classes. I became creative in my approach to say “yes” to it all, like taking trips to the dining hall with my friend from Stats class and meeting my friends for study hours at the library. I wanted to maximize my opportunities to get to know new faces, and I thought I was doing a great job with this balance until I was diagnosed with pneumonia twice, stomach bacteria, and ongoing sinus infections. My body was shutting down because I needed to start saying “no” more, so I didn’t take a few of those late-night ice cream runs or dance breaks like I had been. I was trying to juggle way too much while running on a battery of 20%. Caffeine can only do so much, and going into junior year, I know my limits better.

People always say, “these are going to be the best years of your life,” and I get it! I really am having the time of my life, while also loving my time in the classroom. This is how I know TCU is my place. My friends feel like family, Fort Worth feels like my home away from home, and every time I come back, I shed a tear or two. Every college applicant deserves to believe they will find a university that makes them feel the way I do. And for that, I thank Within Reach!