Student X-Change Program

Since they've never heard of the Student X-Change Program and what it entails, my counselor advised me to keep a journal, to reflect on the experience I would have since I don't have to worry about paying for school. I've never written a journal before and if I did, it was probably for school. The Program is going to take care of tuition, housing, and materials like books, computers, and stationery. The good thing is that out of all of the schools I applied for, they offer the Student X-Change Program at my top three schools. My first-choice university is in the city, some six hours away from home. It offers various degree programs in engineering, medical, financial and the arts. Plus, I heard there is a beach not too far from campus. My second-choice school is on the other side of the country, in California. While it offers the same variety of degree programs and a beach not too far from campus, it is the sheer distance from home that makes it not my first choice. My third-choice school is nothing like the first two. While it is about the same distance from home, it is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere, in a whole different state. They don't offer the same kinds of degrees as the other two. I think the sole reason why I pick it is the low tuition cost. I applied for other schools, but they either didn't accept me or they did not offer the Student X-Change Program, which really excited me to attend university.

So, a little about me. My name is Elijah. I have two siblings. I have an older brother named Dylan and a twin sister named Cassie. Out of the three of us, I'm the first of the family who has challenged themselves to further their education by attending a university right after high school. The highest any of my family has done is a couple semesters at the local community college. While anything that pertains to my finances will be taken care of, I'm worried my grades will affect which schools from my top three choices accepts me. According to Dylan, my first-choice school was known to take only the best and brightest students. In fact, he tried to apply for the same school when he was eighteen, but sadly they didn't accept him. He did get acceptance letters from my second- and third-choice schools, but he got discouraged from the travel and the low amount of degree programs offered respectively, and therefore chose to attend community college.

Cassie on the other hand chose to get a job right after high school and she would consider going to school at a later date. Since my parents don't have to worry about paying for my college expenses, they at least can focus on preparing my twin sister for the future. And Dylan seems like he can also help in that regard.

Today is the day I get my acceptance letters... my only worry is how my grades from high school affect the results.