Before I had kids in high school, it sounded like so much fun to go through the process of deciding where they would go to college. I thought of the college trips we would take, the tours, all the options for them to go learn, experience, and explore… And then we arrived at this point— two years ago for my son and this year for my daughter. The truth is: it is exciting but it’s also really stressful. Considering all the changes this decision brings means each one of us has melted down a few times during the process, maybe me most of all. Because, to me, this is probably the end of having these lovely people living in our home which has been our reality for 20 years. My son decided on a school that is a 6 hour drive away and that makes it tough to squeeze into a weekend. Having seen the challenges that distance brought, my daughter kept her search a bit closer but for a while was leaning towards the Washington, DC area since she’s interested in International Relations. However, during her search process, she found the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall and things began to change. The program seems amazing with its access to internships in New York City as well as the opportunity to study in Washington DC for a semester if she wants. The caliber of professors and students in the program made this her first choice and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a 40 minute drive away. So her decision is made— she’s going to be a Pirate! Ahoy!