Deciding where to go for college is a difficult and daunting task because it is a significant decision that can have a profound impact on one’s future. With so many options to choose from, including different types of institutions, programs, locations and costs, it can be overwhelming to weigh the pros and cons of each choice. Furthermore, factors such as personal preferences, academic goals and family expectations can add complexity to the decision-making process.
Additionally, the pressure to make the “right” choice can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of uncertainty and indecision. All these factors make deciding where to go for college a challenging task that requires careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation. The idea of going wrong or picking incorrectly overwhelms graduating seniors and leads them to believe that there are no correct options.
Lucky enough for rising seniors and those looking to apply to colleges, people have been making these tough decisions for years and have plenty of advice to share.
“When you decide what college you want to go to you have to be selfish. Think of how it’s gonna benefit you in the long run and put your own interests first and not what others may think,” said senior Jack Teuschl, who will be attending the United States Naval Academy next year. “College is an investment. You want to make sure you get out of it something that will set you up for life as well as have fun along the way.”
Others like to think about it in a more mathematical way by creating a chart and assigning a numeric value of weight ranging from one to10 for characteristics of a college that are key to them. For example, the number of students, sports to follow, the quality of their major program at the school. After visiting each campus they will give a one to10 rating for each of their key characteristics and then add up the totals.
“This way if you’re feeling indifferent about where to go you can look at the numbers. Numbers never lie. Just like facts. Facts don’t care about your feelings,” said J.C. Molinari, senior.
College counseling at Gonzaga also has your back; they are available almost around the clock to help you find the perfect fit for you.
“Finding your best fit, academically, socially and financially are all important parts of the decision making process,” said Ms. Kellie Stewart, associate director of college counseling.