For many seniors, choosing a college is one of the biggest choices they face before graduation. Between campus tours, financial aid packages, and endless charts comparing schools, seniors said a variety of factors shape where they ultimately decide to go. Richard Buckman,12, a Rutgers University commit, said, “A good student community, whether that community is around sports, academics, or other things, is important when it comes to college for me.” He also said that any college that provided a “stable” community outside of education was considered an option for him. Buckman chose Rutgers for the “potential for success that every graduate leaves with” and because the cost of attendance would be a “no-brainer” given its in-state tuition. His decision reflects how students often look for a balance between social environment and practical factors like affordability.
Another student, Erica Scannapieco, 12, was also considering the cost of attendance. At first, Scannapieco wanted the “stereotypical college experience,” including a large student population and a strong sports team. However, when it came time to decide, cost became her top priority.“I don’t want the debt that comes with it, so my highest rank nonnegotiable is low tuition,” she said. Scannapieco concluded that college is a time that one should enjoy, made by what one makes of it; her perspective highlights a common shift among seniors, where initial values regarding college life are often adjusted based on realities.
Emma VanGemert, 12, listed her nonnegotiables for what her college should provide for her as “good food, good merit scholarships, strong academics, small class sizes, and good research/clinical opportunities.” In terms of whether or not one of those nonnegotiables had a higher rank, she said that most of her schools on her list carried a prestigious name, but that was simply how they followed and not something she considered as a nonnegotiable. Some factors, however, were not as important in the decision-making process to her. VanGemert said that she did not take things like sports, Greek life, or distance into great consideration when narrowing down schools. One decision VanGemert wished she had made earlier when considering colleges was to look more into the merit scholarships of each school she applied to. VanGemert said, “I looked at many schools that give out very big merit scholarships, but I didn’t take into account that they only give out a very small portion of them. Then behind those few large ones, they give out much smaller ones: so their expensive cost becomes much more apparent.” Like Scannapieco, VanGemert’s reflection shows how the college search can be a learning experience, allowing students to understand finances and figure out what matters most to them.
Kristy DiGiacomo, 12, chose Auburn University because of its strong academics and its “SEC feel”. When DiGiacomo was first looking at schools, she considered distance, but once she realized they didn’t provide the “college experience” she was looking for, she started looking farther away. DiGiacomo said her college’s nonnegotiables were “a big school, Greek life, great sports teams, and a good business school”. While every student prioritizes different factors-from cost and academics to campus culture and food- seniors are carefully weighing what matters most to them as they prepare for their next steps.
