Panera, chipotle, Oh my. Or: Weird things to look for in your search

We all have our list of what we want in a college. It might be a sport, a location, a size or, a major.

But what about the oddly specific things that may only apply to you?

These nonnegotiables have their value, and can actually be helpful in your search.

A few examples of this:

I refused to apply to a school where I would have no access to a Panera. I know. Weird. But it’s my favorite lunch in the world, and no school was worth not having access to it 9 months a year.

A friend of mine had the same deal with Chipotle, and hers had to be walking distance.  

(Last food one I promise) I knew someone who refused to apply to a school where he couldn’t get In N Out Burger (basically cutting out everything but the west coast)

Another friend of mine won’t look at a school where boys wear “those pants with animals on them” (super preppy schools).

My friend’s twin sister wouldn’t apply to a school where the football stadium couldn’t seat at least 10,000 people.

Everyone has their quirks that make them who they are. And part of that is the weird things you need out of a school.

While you shouldn’t have a laundry list of these types of things, having one very strange nonnegotiable is reasonable. In fact, it just might make your search easier.
Hypothetically:

You can’t choose between two schools. One has access to Panera (or whatever your nonnegotiable is) and one does not. Bam. Decision made.

Or conversely…

You tour a school and feel “it,” that flutter in your heart. That perfect school. One quick Google maps search later; you discover that you would have to drive 20 minutes to get to the next Chipotle. And yet… you can’t bring yourself to cut the school. To me? That sounds like a perfect match.

Of course, most people won’t have a strange nonnegotiable. But if you have some kind of obsession or dream, there’s no reason not to add it along with “small class size” and “decent parking” on your list of nonnegotiables for a school.

But, one small note on this one, your nonnegotiable should not be tryout-based things. Because even if the school has them, it does not mean that you’re going to get into them. So, hypothetically, if you pick a school because it has a killer club lacrosse team, and then you don’t make said team, that’s going to be a big blow to your happiness right off the bat.

Other than that, let your freak flag fly. Have your one weird holdout. It might not be something to talk about in an essay (Why Northwestern? Oh it had a Chipotle in walking distance!) But it can help you sort your thoughts.