It’s coming to the end of the school year, and seniors around the world are deciding which box they fit in for the next four years, including colleges. As it’s getting down to the wire, Canton High School seniors have begun picking the school they plan to spend the next four years of their lives residing in. What goes into making this decision? Where is everyone going? How excited or nervous are they?
Each senior in high school is presented with an endless amount of opportunities after they finish high school. Trade school, entering the workforce, community college, military, a four year university, and so much more. In Canton High School, the majority of the students here decide to enter into a four year college. The official decision date for most four year colleges is May first.
Canton seniors are now down to the wire on making the decision of what school they decide to choose to attend and where to live the next four years of their lives. Many students are struggling to narrow their choices. There is no way to ensure you’re not making the wrong choice. Many turn to social media to ask for advice, many ask their friends, families, and teachers.
There are many reasons why one school would be more desirable than others. Perhaps one school offers more money, has stronger academics, the campus suits your lifestyle, and more. However, most college decisions aren’t black and white. For many students, there are confounding variables. For example, what if one school is considered less prestigious and has a less favorable campus, but offered the most money, would an education with less debt be worth a less enthusiastic environment?
Some ways to narrow down college decisions may be looking at the location. For many, a school may have seemed like a nice fit at first, but the location may not be favorable. Elizabeth Pelland, a senior at Canton High School said, “UMASS Amherst was a school I was excited about initially, but I didn’t love the area surrounding the school and, for that reason, I decided to take it off my list.” Consider the environment, would you actually fit a more urban environment or are you better suited for a rural area? Do you think you will want to move closer to home? Abby Kim, a senior at Canton High School said, “I’m not scared to go far next year, I’m excited for what’s ahead in a new place.” For some, going far is the dream, for others, it’s something to dread. It’s up to the individual to decide where they fit.
Additionally, it’s important to consider the financial future. Financial aid packages are something every senior dreads opening. Debt, debt, and more debt. With the current unpredictable political climate, are student loans something we should avoid altogether? The decision is up to the student and their families. However, note the return on investment. Will the more expensive college offer better career paths right out of college that will set up a better path to pay off the debt? Or is the investment not worth the outcome. Look at that specific college’s alumni network and popular career placements in order to make a more informed decision. Forbes suggests looking at the median annual income of a graduate from a prospective school in order to gain insight on how your financial future may pan out.
Every individual is different and everyone wants something different out of their own college experience. It’s important to go with the college where you have the best fit, and are able to make an informed choice about your future. Every school provides something different and everyone fits somewhere different. If all else fails and your prospective colleges are equal, which has better school sweatshirts to wear on decision date this May first?
