High school comes with many experiences. Similar to how a roller coaster operates, it has its ups and downs. And eventually, it always comes to an end. In high school, this end is graduation.
However, graduation isn’t when one just tosses their cap off into the air and leaves school forever. There are many paths a person can take. This can change depending on whether they choose the military, dive straight into the workforce or decide to go to college.
While it is possible to scribble different colleges onto scraps of paper and throw it into a hat, shake it and go to the one that gets picked, there’s much more to consider.
Picking the right college can be stressful. There are several factors to take into consideration when choosing a college. For example, whether one is staying at home or going out of state, the cost of tuition and the specialized majors can definitely play a factor into one’s final decision.
Nevertheless, for whoever is out there stressing about this very decision, worry no longer.
Here are some tips from the SHS community that can help one make the right decision when it comes to choosing a college.
“I started thinking about college my sophomore year,” senior Thang Sawm Khai said. “To help prepare, I took a decent number of DC classes that are considered general ed, so if the college accepts those credits, my general ed courses required to graduate college would be taken care of before my freshman year.”
Khai says that finding a college that supports one’s desired major is a top priority, which also played a role in his decision since he is interested in pursuing music education and Ball State is known for its strong education programs.
“The first thing I’d ask is if that school is known for your intended major. Then, I’d ask about the cost…,” Khai said. “If you’re not getting any scholarships, I’d say look for another school that offers more money.”
For Khai, one of the biggest influences in his decision was finances, which was supported through his involvement in the 21st Century Scholars Program.
“For me, the most important thing when considering a college is the costs… I’m looking at like $4K a year, which is really good,” Khai said.
As a 21st Century Scholar, Khai’s tuition is covered, allowing him to focus mainly on room and board rather than the full cost of everything. This made his final choice, Ball State University, stand out as both an affordable and practical option.
However, choosing a college isn’t just about money. Students also have to think about the quality of the school, the programs it may offer and whether a school aligns with their future goals.
For senior Hannah Neuman, finding something she was passionate about when it came to the beginning of her path after high school was most prominent.
“I always knew I wanted to go into something medical,” Neuman said. “But going into high school, I wasn’t really sure what exactly. I just always envisioned doing something medical and playing sports.”
For Neuman, her search for colleges began early. She credits the beginning of her journey to both her freshman year of high school and watching her sister begin college as key factors that played into her thinking seriously about her future at a young age.
“I started thinking about it because there are just a lot of factors to think about and it’s just good to start thinking about those ahead of time,” Neuman said.
As she continued through high school, Neuman balanced academics and athletics, knowing both could play a major role in her future.
And when it came to choosing her college, Neuman emphasized the importance of considering multiple factors beyond academics.
“Think about the clubs they have to offer because when you get to college you’re going to want to get involved right away,” Neuman said.
Ultimately, Neuman chose Bethel University, where she will continue both her academic and athletic activities as part of her scholarships. Additionally, her religious background played as a huge deciding factor.
“I chose it because it’s a good distance away from home but not out of state,” Neuman said. “I’m a Christian. It’s a Christian school, and I feel like I’ll belong there.”
Her advice to underclassmen is simple. Be patient and trust in one’s own decision.
“You’re going to probably do a lot of college visits,” Neuman said. “Just know that in the end, you’re making the decision that’s right for you, not for others.”
Another important perspective comes from people who directly work with college admissions.
Robert Hadley, an admissions counselor at University of Indianapolis, works closely with incoming freshmen and helps guide them through the transition from high school to college.
With over 30 years of experience in education, as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal, Hadley contributes a bigger understanding of what students need to succeed after high school.
His experience gives him an advantage in helping students navigate their options. According to Hadley, choosing a college isn’t just about picking a name, it’s about understanding opportunities and long-term goals.
“You don’t always know where you’re going to end up,” Hadley said.
Despite retiring from high school education, Hadley enjoys continuing to support students in a new way.
“I really enjoy admissions because it’s still in the same field, helping students achieve academic goals, just now at the college level,” Hadley said.
Hadley has seen and witnessed situations where a student and their parent disagreed on where the student should go.
“Honestly, the parent typically wins. Who has the money drives the decision most of the time, not all the time… and that happens quite often where the parent and the student have a different vision,” Hadley said.
He maintains an unbiased perspective on the matter and states that either person could be in the wrong yet in the end, it’s up to the student to make the decision.
Hadley also disagrees with the idea that once a student makes a committed decision to a college, it’s too late for them to change their mind or have regrets.
“You can transfer. Transfer students are really common and we have a lot of transfer students at UIndy. When students go for a year or two years and they’re like, ‘you know what? I think I want a reset. I want to go to somewhere different’… You’ll always definitely have that option,” Hadley said.
While it is hard to make the decision, there are many ways to approach it and take it one step at a time. By following some of these tips before senior year arrives, this can help lower the difficulty that comes with the decision process.
