As the anticipated date approaches, seniors are committing to their next four years. May 1st, national college decision day, is just around the corner. While seniors submit their application in the fall, this date feels so far away. Time is now flying by and growing up is starting to sound much more serious. When deciding where to apply, seniors will weigh various factors. These include, academic programs, location, financial aid, social life on campus, dorm rooms, and career opportunities. So much thought goes into what college is best fit for you as each student has their own preferences. 
Students need to look past their goals right now and think about the future, what school will benefit them the best post graduation? As seniors start to commit to their schools, some trends in decisions are being noticed. Schools such as Seton Hall, James Madison University, The College of New Jersey, and Penn State have been very popular amongst students. The one school that stuck out this year was Penn State.
Penn State is a large school known for its strong academic programs, campus life, and its large alumni network. Many opportunities can come from going to Penn State. When learning why so many students picked Penn State I asked them two questions; What made you choose Penn State? Were you between any other schools? Maya Torjussen picked Penn State “because it was the perfect balance for me of fun and academics while also being somewhat close to home”. She stated that she was between Penn State, Delaware, and Indiana but ultimately chose Penn State. Kaci Pace chose Penn State because, “It has the best program for what I want to do, I wasn’t always set on Penn State because I hate the cold but I toured it and fell in love with it”. Kaci was between Penn State and James Madison University but chose Penn State due to their huge program and alumni network. Idan Shifrin explained that he “wanted a big school with great academics that is somewhat close to home. Penn State fits that criteria”. Idan was set on Penn State and didn’t have to pick between two.
There are so many factors that go into deciding that best fit the student’s needs. When making your decision remember that not everyone has the same experience. Everyone goes through this process and feels the nerves, stress, and excitement. Anything can happen and sometimes what you planned doesn’t always go through. When college applications get a little too stressful just remember, it will all work out in the end.
