As fall approaches, so does the college application season for seniors. This time of the year can be very overwhelming for students, especially with everyone around them asking the dreaded question, “What do you plan on doing after high school?”
“I think that [question] puts a little pressure on people,” Director of School Counseling Brad Miller said. With the added pressure, it prompts students to have some self-reflection. “It [makes] you ask some deeper questions in life, like what do I want out of my life,” Miller said.
Some seniors have already begun asking those questions. One major decision is whether to stay in Indiana or attend an out-of-state school. For Auria Knight, “I’ve always wanted study marnie biology since I was little kid. My mom is a biology teacher, so I’ve always loved science…Going out of state really is my only option,” Knight said.
Knight wants to study marine biology and going out of state to allows for her greater opportunities that In-state can not offer. “In-state we don’t really have any oceans,” Knight said.
Knight is not the only one who wants to attend an out-of-state school for opportunities that better suit their career. For David Ruat, he has always planned on attending a top-ranked university out of state. “I came into freshman year thinking Stanford was my top choice…and now Stanford is not even on my list anymore,” Ruat said.
Ruat was able to do some reflection on what he wanted after participating in the college fly-in programs over the summer. “The fly-in programs have severely shaken up my college list. These fly-in programs you get to experience the school and talk direction to an admission officer,” Ruat said.
Ruat plans on majoring in mathematics with a secondary major in music. “A more selective out-of-state institution would provide me more with an environment where I’m challenged constantly,” Ruat said.
On the other hand, some seniors prefer to stay in Indiana for college. “I would like to stay in-state and be closer to home,” Aubrey Hall said.
Staying close to home is not the only factor Hall is looking for, but the size of the college matters as well. “I also prefer a smaller school because I want to have more attention-focused classes.”
In addition to academics, athletics play an important role in her school of choice. “I want to continue to play a sport in college because I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball,” Hall said.
She also believes that playing basketball in college will allow her to be a part of more activities at a smaller school.
Kiera Nickelman also plans on staying in Indiana for college, but for different reasons than Hall. “The money aspect plays a big part into it,” Nickelman said. In-state tuition is typically less expensive than out-of-state tuition. Nickelman also values the accessibility and quality of the school within the state, “I think Indiana is a good state for colleges,” Nickelman said.
Seniors weigh a variety of personal, academic and financial factors when making a college decision. Some priotize unique programs that are not offered in Indiana while others consider proximity and cost. Regardless of the path a senior takes the college application season, albeit stressful, allows for students to reflect on what they want in life and their goals as they transition into a new journey outside of high school.
