As seniors fill out college applications, many will choose to wait to make a decision on a college until much later in the year. However, there are also some students who have made their decision already.
College applications put a lot of stress on high school seniors each year. 58% of seniors say that college applications are the most stressful thing about their senior year, and many other seniors stress about issues related to college such as paying for college.
While applications are stressful, many people worry even more about picking a college. A student’s college choice can greatly affect the next four years of their life, and students often don’t enjoy thinking so far into the future.
Senior Matt Pischke is unsure of his future plans. “I’d rather decide later because I have no clue where I want to go. I want to wait longer and visit some colleges before I choose a college,” said Pischke.
However, some students choose to commit to their college early instead of continuing to stress about applications.
Senior Addie Kilcoin wanted to get rid of the stress and made her decision early. “I decided to go to the University of Iowa because it was an easy choice: it’s close to home and it has a really good program without a high cost,” expressed Kilcoin.
Similarly, students who have committed to a college for athletics experience less stress due to fewer college applications.
Owen Chiles, a senior on the swim team, has committed to the University of Cincinnati. “It’s really stressful to know that every race there’s coaches watching. It’s basically a huge race to sign to a college for swimming; everyone is competing for times and talking to coaches. I have a huge weight off my shoulders now that I’m committed,” said Chiles.
Another option for those who have found a college that they love is early decision. “It’s a great option if you have a college in mind that you really want to go to,” said Nathan Musal, a senior who applied early decision to the University of Pennsylvania.
Early decision is a commitment that says a student must go to a specific college as long as they get accepted. This doesn’t ensure that the student will go to this college, but it often increases their chances of acceptance.
While college commits may have less stress because they don’t have to worry about applications any more, it is not this simple for all seniors. Most students don’t have the advantage of getting offers for athletic scholarships, and not everyone has found their perfect college yet.
While committing to a college early is a good option, there are many different ways of choosing a college. No matter when the decision is made, it is most important that students make an informed decision that will work best for them.
