Written by Lindsay Harden |
Not every school is for every person, and different people are more comfortable in different environments; as math teacher Alan Samet would say, “different strokes for different folks”.
Students of the senior class (including me) are currently under a lot of stress trying to figure out which colleges to apply to. Soon, once we apply we are going to get accepted and have plenty of options. Money, of course, is a huge factor in deciding which college to attend. That is why many graduates from the class of 2016 had sudden changes in their plans.
But while money is an important factor, and it is a great feeling to go to college with very little debt or even debt free, it is important to go to a college where you will be happy as well. Morgan graduate of 2016 and current freshman at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Courtney Carrol said, “I chose JMU because I heard from students that even when you go home for a few days, or for break, you wish you were still back at school; and I can now say that’s true. Everyone loves it here so much that being away from it for more than a week is really tough. Roll Dukes!!!!” Courtney is majoring in nursing.
Another Morgan graduate of 2016 and current freshman at Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina Kristen Joyce said that she chose ECU because of “the atmosphere and the people around [her]”. “It made me feel like home like I was meant to be there.” Chase LeMay, a graduate of Morgan in 2015 and current sophomore at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts chose Stonehill because he “felt the same vibe that [he] got from being at home”. His advice to current seniors: “The most important part of choosing a college is knowing it’s going to be your new home, and it has to be just as comfortable”.
Current Senior Emily Sordo’s number one school is Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, and she has already been accepted. She says, “I went to visit for an event that they had, and I really liked the environment and the people there. I just fell in love and felt almost like home there”.
Senior Rachel Ford has applied and been accepted to her number one school Loyola University in New Orleans, Lousiana. Rachel said, “I love that it’s somewhere brand new even though it’s far away. I felt at home as soon as I stepped on campus”.
Senior Marcus McDermott has just got accepted to his number one school, Hofstra University in East Garden City, New York. He wants to go there because as he explained it offered him, “the hope, dream and a vision for a bright future doing the thing that I love in an environment that will help me grow and shape myself as I transition into adulthood”. Marcus aspires to be a journalist one day. Marcus said at Hofstra, “I have never been in a more engaging, appreciative, and exciting environment that perpetuated the one thing I am passionate about above all else: being a journalist”.
Some of our current seniors already know where they are going. Senior Cooper Thompson is fully committed to Sacred Heart University where he will play D1 baseball. Senior Julia Zirkelbach has given her verbal commitment to Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. It is a military school, perfect for Julia who wants to join the army. “I can do track and cross country there,” she said, which is just another benefit.
How will you know which college is the right one? By visiting the campus on a tour or open house or maybe even going for an overnight with someone you know who goes there. But whatever college you end up choosing whether it is an easy decision or a hard one, college is all about what you make of it. Don’t stress too much. And if you haven’t applied yet, check out this video to learn more: How to Apply to College with Roach and Em
Good luck seniors!