Mardi Gras is over. What was your best throw?

This time of year, we hear stories of Carnival from all over the world. As I enjoyed a piece of king cake yesterday, I started to think about the many parades and various celebrations going on leading up to Fat Tuesday. If you haven’t been to a Mardi Gras parade before, you would find that it is a true celebration marked by music, colorful costumes, themed floats, and yes, the throws.

The throws are the trinkets that are tossed to the crowd from the various Mardi Gras Parade floats. Some throws are pretty standard (i.e.: stuffed animals, beads, etc.) while others can be collectors’ items, such as the doubloons (medallions) that change from year to year.

Assuming you went to a parade this year, what was your Mardi Gras experience like?

• Was there something new this year that everyone wanted to catch?
• Was there a theme on a float that caught your eye? Did it make you look twice?
• Was there one prized possession, or throw, that you will likely keep around for 10+ plus years and tell others about the day you caught it?
• What was it that made you realize, “I really want THAT throw?”

I think there are a lot of similarities between Mardi Gras and the college admission process.

Yes, it’s a stretch, but think about it. You have been to a lot of parades (i.e. campus visits, open houses, overnights). You have listened to a lot of music (i.e. admission directors, current students, tour guides, bloggers). And each parade (or college), offers something unique and different than the others you have seen. There are also different throws from each school (admission awards, scholarships, academic programs, internship opportunities, location, etc.).

Did you catch the throw you wanted yet? In other words, do you know what your top choice school(s) is? Are your friends looking to go to the same school? Did you get admitted to your first choice school? Do you now prefer a school that you didn’t think was at the top of the list initially because of a visit or a choice of major offered?

The colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green, and gold have significance. Green stands for faith. Have some faith in the process. It isn’t over yet, but I assure you the right choice (throw) is out there for you.