The Problem With Options

In life, we have choices.
Some of them are good, some of them are bad.
More often then not we're stuck at the crossroads of two or more contemplating life and everything in between.
Yet, we are not all Robert Frost.
We don't always take the road less traveled on.
Sometimes we need familiarity, stability or something else.

During this point in the college process, I've received all my acceptance letters, either by email or in the mail with large letters that shout: CONGRATULATIONS!  While this would seem like a joyous moment in any normal student's life, I see that word and cringe inside.

I've been hopping that at least one school would reject me.
That one school would tell me no.

It's not because I like rejection or that I don't want to go to any of these schools.  It's because when people are given too many options, it's that much easier to make a mistake, to go down the wrong path.  Yet, it's time to face reality.  It's time to be an adult, or so my mother says.

As the May deadline approaches the horizon, I find myself looking out into the distance.  Into the manifest of my brain, the unknown.

I'm so confused, I have no idea where to go.  Every school I applied to is big, has a variety of clubs and energized students (aka the complete opposite of where I go now).  Yet, they're so vastly similar to each other or are such polar opposites, I get confused.

Do I want to go to a school in the city or one with a campus on Long Island?  Do I want an easy 4 years ahead of me or be challenged?  Which school will help me get into my dream grad/law school, at Columbia?

So many questions, but a loss for answers.

When I completed my last application I wished upon a star (yes it's cliche) that I'd fall in love with one school that has everything I want.  The truth is, I like a bunch of little things from a handful of schools.  Whenever I eliminate one, I decide to bring it back into my hand as an option after I think about all the pros it has.

A lot of people have told me to make a list of everything I want in a school.  The truth is, the only school that has everything I want is out of reach.  Not only have they not given me any response yet, but it'd be impossible to afford and my SATs are not high enough.

I wish I was a genius.
I wish Columbia accepted be and gave me a full scholarship.
I wish every school gave me a full scholarship and fought over me.  That way I can change my mind an afford to make mistakes.  Yet, that's also unrealistic.  The school that offers me full now, if rejected, most likely won't offer it again if I decide to transfer into it.

I wish someone would tell me what to do, but I know they can't.  All I can do right now is make my list and lay down in the grass, staring at the stars waiting for a sign.

How have you decided to narrow down your list of potential schools?  Are you indecisive like me?