Choosing a college is one of the few big decisions that high school seniors will make over their four years in school. In August, seniors have to pick their top colleges from across the world and begin the long and meticulous college applications. If that is not stressful enough, waiting for admission results from a school can be harder, especially for impatient students. 

Senior Nicole Lindeman felt the pressure a lot while waiting for her admissions results.

“I was excited and nervous to know what the results of my applications were. I applied early to my top school and felt some stress during the weeks of waiting,” Lindeman said. Next year, she will be attending the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

Typically, all early, regular, and deferred applications have been released by the end of April, and seniors will begin making their final decision.

Many factors go into deciding where one will go to college. These factors include, but are not limited to scholarships, campus, location, housing, tuition, distance from home, size, financial aid, and the overall education. For many seniors, this decision not only includes themselves, but their families.

Senior Chelsea Galvin found that location and distance from home were her top factors when finalizing her college decision. 

“Staying close to home, but not in-state was at the top of my list for college. I wanted to come home for a weekend every once and a while and see my family, which is why Arizona ended up being perfect for me,” Galvin said.

Next year, she will be attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.  

Perhaps one of the biggest factors in one college decision is the financial aspect. College can be costly, and it is essential to make a reasonable choice for both the students and her family.

For senior Leilani Gellner, the financial aspect played a huge role in her final college decision. 

“The biggest influence was money. That is the exact reason why I switched schools,” Gellner said.

“My parents got an email from [University of Arizona]. It said that freshman year would cost about $55k, and with my family’s financial state, we would need $30k worth of financial aid to walk out of UA without debt. I ended up choosing to attend SSU [Sonoma State University], which is about the same amount as NDB so my family and I can continue to live comfortably,” Gellner added.

She originally planned to attend the University of Arizona, but later decided to enroll at Sonoma State University. 

College decisions are a significant part of a high schooler’s life. There are many deciding factors, and it is crucial to get the family involved in the decision as well.