Senior Decisions at Morgan

With decision day approaching, the Class of 2025 is proudly announcing their plans beyond the walls of The Morgan School. These students have been preparing for the next chapter of their lives for four years now, and they have finally made it. While approaching the finish line, seniors have been using the Morgan Decisions Instagram page to celebrate their future plans. The account is created and run by a student each year who takes on the role.

Beyond the posts and photo shoots, each senior has a different story about their choices, whether it’s financial situations, dreams, location, and the big question: stay in Connecticut or adventure outside the state?

Staying in Connecticut has its own advantages like being close to home, lower in-state tuition, and the home-like environment. Taking a risk and leaving the state can allow you to grow as a person, a new world perspective, and access opportunities not available where you are now.

While running an analysis of the Instagram page on April 25, I discovered 38.7% of Morgan seniors are staying in Connecticut, while 61.2% are leaving the state. While this is true due to the information we have in the moment, many students are driven to schools in their own state. This could be for many reasons, one being financial situations. A survey by Inside Higher Ed found that 40-52% of students had ruled out certain colleges due to lower costs.

Typically, in-state tuition cost significantly less then out-of-state tuition, sometimes tuition may be cut in half, or even smaller for in state schools; for example, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA): In-state students pay around $13,000 per year, while out-of-state students pay about $43,000 This is due to state tax subsidies, reduced burden on state resources, and the net price (cost after scholarships and grants).

To learn more of why students plan to stay or leave, PawPrint met up with current students to learn their stories, the decisions they made, and why.

Opportunity Over Comfort: Aaliya Aleman’s Story

Aleia Aleman’s story represents many students who are heading out of state to follow their dreams. Aleman is heading to the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 2025, and explains that she “wanted to get out of Connecticut to experience something different.” For her, “Rhode Island is still small and manageable, giving it that Clinton feel, but it’s a chance to live on campus, meet new people, and experience life on her own.”

Aleman plans to study environmental studies and life sciences. She was drawn to URI due to its research programs, supportive welcoming community, and small-manageable class sizes. “The student teacher ratio was important” to her, especially shaped by her time in a small knot community like The Morgan School.

When reflecting on how Morgan shaped her, she was quick to mention the impact of how her teachers have always developed a creative based learning environment. She explains during her time at Morgan she has come across many teachers who helped her understand that “learning can be fun,” which motivated her significantly. She enjoys that support from an educator, which is why URI was a good fit for her. This small school was a big factor for her because she “didn’t want to be lost in a big lecture hall” in order to have a connection with her professors.

Financially, Aleman explains how URI wasn’t the cheapest option, but also wasn’t the most expensive. A challenge she is coming across in the decision process is procrastinating while applying for scholarships, something many other seniors may be stressed by at this time. Even though she started the process later than she wished, she has been trying her best to stay on track and get stuff done.

Her stepmother has been a big influence and support on her throughout this process, since she is also taking college classes and understands the process well. She also credits her teachers for making school fun and meaningful. One teacher in particular has really shaped her and her path, Ms. Lisy, a science teacher at Morgan who teaches Aleman’s favorite class, “Environmental Science,” she said. “It helped me realize how important protecting biodiversity is. That class shaped my dream of helping the world and making a difference.”

A Different Path- Off the College Route: Meadow Papacoda’s Story

While most seniors this year have decided to follow the college route so far, Meadow is taking a risk in a different life path; TIGI Hairdressing Academy in Guilford. She explains how “college isn’t really her thing” and she would rather “be a hairdresser, and maybe do makeup and lashes too.”

During Papacodas junior year, she attended a job shadow at TIGI that sparked her interest. “They gave us a tour, and it was super modern and high-tech. I saw the lash and makeup sections, and I was like, yeah, this is where I want to be.”

While Papacoda knew early on this was an option for her, she still applied to colleges as options for her journey. This was a challenge though because Meadow struggled during her junior year of high school, which is something many students can relate to. “My GPA dropped, and I didn’t finish my work often. That’s when I realized maybe college wasn’t right for me. But I’m excited now because I’ll be working, making money, and I won’t be in debt.”

TIGI is a program that lasts 11 months and will cost much less than college tuition, and this financial situation was a huge factor in her decision to attend this program. This summer, Meadow plans to wait tables and save money to eventually buy an apartment and since she will already have a job she loves, once she gets her hairdressing degree, she will be “living free.”

What’s the right move: Staying or Leaving?

While every decision is personal based on goals, family, finances, and comfort levels, there are advantages and disadvantages for both.

For some students, for example Aleia, leaving is about growth and perspective. “I’m going on an exchange program this summer to push myself even more before college. I want to trust myself and see who I can become on my own.”

While for others such as Meadow, she is excited about the beginning of her career, and making her dreams come true debt free. “I won’t be sitting in a lecture hall. I’ll be doing what I love—and making money while I’m at it.”

With all things considered, The Class of 2025 is headed for greatness in the next chapter of their lives, no matter where they are going. All students still considering options should remember that whether close or far, there is no right way to succeed, only the path that best fits you individually.