Hey guys, I'm really excited/scared/unsure about where life may take me after high school.

Quite frankly, I have no freaking idea about what to do with myself.

I really would like to go to college as soon as possible, and I have a slight idea as to what I'd like to do there...

But I haven't got a clue as to what college I should go to...

My parents want me to stay in state, but I personally wouldn't mind leaving...

I can tell you more about my interests if you want in order to help narrow things down, but I'll cut it off here...

I'm starting to ramble...

I know what you mean. I had a similar panic moment when I graduated, too. I decided, for me, it would be more financially viable if I waited to go to school until I did figure out what I wanted to do, as college/university will always be there if and when I decide I'm ready to attend. In today's day and age, people feel like they have to go to school, regardless of whether or not they know what they want to study or if there's any work in their chosen field, and they rack up debt for a degree they never end up using (if they even graduate at all).

So I decided "fuck that", and just didn't go. Now, I'm telling you this because I graduated in 2005 - 10 years ago now - and I have still yet to go to college/university. But, again, my husband has been to college twice, dropped out both times, and we just finished paying off his student loans last month - useless debt racked up for nothing. He's talking about wanting to go to school, again, and I had to sit him down and basically say "If you're going, you're NOT dropping out, and you had better be damned sure it's what you want to do." Last year he wanted to go in for chef training (he currently works as a cook). This year he wants to go into computer science (which was the same course he tried to take the first time and dropped out of). Yeeeaaah...

SO! I realise I'm likely just confusing you more on what the "right" choice is. But really, the only person who can decide that is you. Sometimes it helps to take a year or two off to work a shitty minimum wage job and really think about your life's goals (and maybe save up for school first). Other people have found they really benefit from taking general courses, no major, and just seeing which subjects draw out their passions more. No matter what you decide, there is going to be risk involved - so pick the option with a risk you're willing to accept should things not turn out the way you had hoped.

Also, welcome to your first major adult decision. =P

PS: Consider going into a trade. They're the jobs that are currently in high supply and with lower competition. You're more likely to find a well paying job quickly after graduation than that of other fields of study. Of course it's not for everyone, but it is something worth thinking about.

I'd love to go someplace with a decent creative writing department.

There's this national contest that I entered last year, and I was thinking about going to a college that might give me scholarship money for winning... :O

I'm 31 years old and I still don't know what I want to do with my life, lol. I'm currently working as a receptionist at an assisted living senior community. I like this job quite a bit actually. The pay's not that great, but it works with my anxiety, which is almost more important than the pay. I have a bachelor's in art/graphic design, which is basically nothing more than an expensive piece of paper hanging on the wall. I'm still paying back student loans. In a way, I wish I had never gone to college. I suppose it was a good experience and all, but I lived at home, and I think I might have gotten more out of it had I lived on campus. But then, my anxiety was a huge issue and I didn't think I could make it living on my own yet.