Prairie High School students are getting more involved in the demanding process of college applications, tours, and admissions decisions. For Seniors, this is a very stressful time of the year, as they take in a variety of factors to find their perfect college.
Touring is a crucial step in finding a college that fits your needs. Seeing a college in person is important because it allows you to imagine yourself there and get a feel for what college life might be like. While touring a college you need to consider factors, like campus layout, greek life, and facilities. “I would say I mostly look for the student environment, how nice all the admissions people are really make a different campus quality, and just the type of campus I’m really looking for,” Jules Staley, a Senior who has been scouting colleges since her Junior year, advises on what exactly to look for.
Another factor to keep in mind is that every college has something different to offer, especially when it comes to academics. Some colleges may have the facilities to support advanced STEM majors, while other colleges may focus on the quality of their arts majors.
For Ben Gunther, a Senior looking to major in nuclear engineering, it has been hard to find any college that has his major, “there’s like, 25 in the entire country,” Gunther says. Staley also struggles to find colleges with strong engineering programs that fit her other college wants, “It’s very hard to find schools with my major because I am only looking into private, and smaller schools,” Staley says.
For Gunther the flexibility in changing majors also makes a difference, he is currently focusing on Oregon State University, “They have a lot of programs I’ve talked about in the past, and if I wanted to switch my major from nuclear engineering there’s a lot of other options,” Gunther says.
For many student-athletes, sports, whether club or school-sanctioned, must be considered when researching colleges. “Everything comes down to whether or not you can play there, and financial aid is also big and how much money you can get for playing,” Staley, who is hoping to play soccer at a D2 college, says.
The class of 2025 has many steps to take to prepare for the next chapter of their life, so as a Senior, it is imperative to start soon and keep an eye on deadlines for applications and scholarships. The Prairie High School counseling staff is always open to schedule appointments, and answer questions to students who need help figuring out where to start.
