If you’re a senior in high school, you’re probably aware of a certain looming deadline: May 1, “National Decision Day.” These words send a spike of panic through the hearts of many seniors, specifically those undecided on where to attend college. However, many decided students look forward to this date, as seniors around the country wear their chosen college’s gear or colors.
Senior Maddie Lickteig always knew she would go to school in Nebraska, but was torn between three schools. Nebraska Methodist College won her over after she visited.
“I went on a college visit there, and it’s really specialized and focused on you. You’re not just a random student to the professor, so that meant a lot, and then they have really high test scores, so I know that I will get my degree and pass all my tests,” Lickteig said.
Senior Sarah Clark, who picked Utah State University, started researching colleges around a year ago. Eventually, she found Utah State and the University of Missouri, as they both had great band programs and offered classes relevant to a chemistry major.
“I had a hard time deciding, but when the time came that I had to make a decision by a deadline, I just knew which one to go to. Honestly you just figure it out. It just clicks,” Clark said.
Her decision ultimately came down to scholarships and how college visits went. At some visits, the college students seemed condescending, or to ignore visitors altogether. When she visited Utah State, she fell in love with its community, and how they embraced her.
“They’re really friendly and welcoming, and that’s something I want to be a part of: a place that includes everyone,” Clark said.
As Clark wants to work for NASA as an astronaut, Utah’s classification as a NASA Space Grant University also played a part in her decision.
Clark highly recommends anyone who is undecided visit lots of colleges and to not to be afraid of looking outside of Nebraska.
“[G]et a feel for the university, like, ‘does this fit me? Is it welcoming? Is it friendly?’ Honestly, it just kind of falls into place,” Clark said.
While many students know where they want to go after high school, others, like senior Maleigha Warwick, are still unsure. She is interested in interior design and medicine, but also considering taking a year to volunteer at refugee camps with The Red Cross.
“I’m probably going to start out at a community college…and then I’ll probably move on from there to figure out what I want to do. I think you could be interested in so many things. Just saying you need to pick something for the rest of your life is kind of setting people back, I think,” Warwick said.
This struggle of choosing an area to focus on makes community college an attractive choice, as it’s a comparatively inexpensive way to explore your interests and get credit for general requirements.
If you have your heart set on going to college, know that you still have time to pick a school and that oodles of other students are in the same position as you. And, many enter college with an undeclared major.