Portia Baudisch, Managing Editor
After the essays are written and the transcripts are sent, high school seniors are left with what is arguably the most difficult part. Choosing where to spend $30,000 a year requires a lot of pros and cons lists, a lot of thinking, and a lot of sacrificing. This process is a complicated one that must be taken seriously, and comes with many varying opinions.
“I need a good academic base with good job placement,” NHS senior David Mackinnon said. Some schools are stronger in assuring a job after graduation day than others.
When applying for jobs, one of the first things they see is where you got your degree. “I want a school with a good name. I want people to be like ‘Oh, you went there? Come work for us,’” Newtown High School senior Kustav Mitra said. For a lot of soon-to-be enrolled students, the college’s name is important.
Other students are looking for a college that will cater more to their needs. “I need a good Gender Studies program,” NHS senior Hannah Bartlett said. Bartlett is not alone in her quest to find the perfect school for her major. “Having a dance or theatre major is really important,” NHS senior Tess Stofko said.
For some, the atmosphere itself trumps all. “I like a closed campus. BU [Boston University] doesn’t have a campus, I don’t like that. I’m also not into the whole Greek life thing, BC [Boston College] doesn’t have any sororities which is cool,” NHS senior Kylie Gallagher said.
While some prefer a closed, rural school, others like a more open feel. “I like an open campus, I like schools in the city,” NHS senior Megan Primavera said.
Others might not care too much about the campus, but the feel in general. “I need a very good atmosphere, good dorms, and people better be friendly. I don’t want to just be studying, it has to have a good atmosphere, good vibes,” NHS senior Akash Ahuja said.
There are some different aspects of atmosphere that students are looking for; nightlife. “I need a good party scene,” NHS senior Tate Schwab said.
Parties, sports, and clubs are important to a lot of students. “I want a school with sports and good school spirit,” NHS senior Brenna Kelly said.
However, some students are limited to schools for other reasons. “I need a school that will give me a lot of financial aid,” Schwab said. The United States Department of Education provides approximately $100 billion in government financial aid to students in colleges and universities across the nation, with the average financial package around $10,000. When $10,000 isn’t enough, that’s when scholarships come in. “I’m going to apply for as many scholarships as I can to save my parents money since they’re paying for my college,” NHS senior Taylor Zavatsky said.
For most of us, college will be the first time we live away from home. Such a big transition might scare some, but excite others. NHS senior Nicole O’Leary already knows she will be attending University of New Hampshire for gymnastics, “It’s a perfect location because it’s not too close to home but it’s not too far away, so I can come home if I want to,” O’Leary said. While O’Leary plans on coming home to see her family, some students have no intention of doing so. “I need to be far enough where I don’t have to see my family,” NHS senior Taylor Zavastky said. However, going to school far away complicates things when it does come time to come home.
“I want to go close enough to drive to and but far enough to fly, you don’t want to be in between like Maryland because that’s a really long drive but you wouldn’t fly there,” NHS senior Kevin Droniak said.
Whether the party scene, the name, or the location is most important; think hard and think long before choosing the right school for you. Good Luck!
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