It Is Four Years Of Your Future: Choose Wisely

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Jenifer Oliver in Op-Ed

Chronicle Reporter
Jenifer Oliver

The time has come for high school seniors to make the final decision of what college or university to go to. The final decision day for most colleges is this Friday, May first. This crucial step causes inner conflict in every high school student because the decision is a permanent one and there should be no looking back.

Students may be offered several acceptance letters and the conflict lies in which school is best for them. Some students may choose a college because it was the only college they were accepted too and that is great at least they were accepted. Other students however choose a college because of location. Five out of ten seniors I asked chose their college based on where it was located and how beautiful the campus was. No one wants to go to a school in the middle of no where but that is not all that matters.

In my opinion the most important element to look for is the programs and classes colleges have to offer. It is not reasonable to go to a college that does not have your major in the end it would only be a waste of money. People change their majors during their first two years of college which is why it is important to choose the college that offers a wide range of majors that interest you. Athletic students may focus on colleges that offer the best sport teams and that is a bad move. Not every athlete will become famous and not every athlete will be able to play forever. Having a back-up plan is not an option but a requirement because the human body is not made of steel.

Perhaps the real issue is money for every single high schooler. Unless you are the one percent in our society that is the least of your worries. My personal reason for going to community college is that I do not have enough money to pay for four years of private university in another state. The university I want to attend is my dream school and offers many programs with various campuses. However, being a Deferred Action student limits what I can do and how much money I receive. I did not need to ask my parents if we would be able to afford the tuition because I knew the answer is no. Student loans are always an option but no one wants to graduate drowning in debt that gains interest and the debt becomes higher. To some it can be worth the risk.

In the end it all comes down on what we want because it is the beginning of our lives and we have to learn to make decisions for ourselves. So, if you really want to go to that college then do everything you can to afford it and if you do not want to risk it then there is no shame going to a community college. It is not about what you have but about your will and desire to study and pursue your career in order to strive!

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