Pursuing A Life At College

In life, with the inevitability of time and aging, comes the process of maturing and moving forward on a path into the future. The most immediate and foreseeable destination along this route to maturation is college. Despite the obviousness in continuing education at a college, the “right” or most compatible college is often hidden among the numerous choices that are offered. Out of the multitude of available colleges and universities, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University provides a range of choices and options for large public universities with renowned football teams. Clemson is a large public college in rural South Carolina, with a robust military heritage, a reputation of having more rigorous entry requirements,

Naturally, going to a University is going to be more expensive than a juco because it is a four-year college verses two. Tuition for a two year juco is 2000 dollars according to the U.S. Department of Education. This seems expensive, but when you hear a university like WSU tuition is 2900, 2000 does not seem bad. Knowing you could get the same education for the first two years at a cheaper price is useful. The dorm cost is also extremely different. WSU cost for dorms plus the meal plans can add up to over 4000 dollars a semester. On the other hand, Butler’s cost for dorm and meal plan is over 2,500 dollars a semester.

When people hear the word “college”, many panic inside at the thought. But, when I hear the word “college” I think about Illinois State University. In early July, I attended an Open House at ISU for my very first official college visit. As I stepped onto campus, I couldn’t but help to feel like it was my future home. Many aspects of the tour made me draw nearer to choosing this college after finishing my High School career. Illinois State University seems to fit my personality very well, has an amazing program for what I want to study, and is an outstanding campus for my academic strengths and weaknesses.

From the time I was in junior high, my grandmother had been telling me about College of the Ozarks and trying to convince me to attend the college. After much consideration, I decided to make College of the Ozarks my top priority when applying to colleges. The atmosphere of the college, the perfect distance from home, and the opportunity to work for my education were all major factors when making this decision. I had attended private Christian schools for most of my life, so the small campus and Christian values of College of the Ozarks appealed to me much more than the chaotic partying ways of a larger university. I knew if I attended College of the Ozarks, many of my classes would be more difficult than at a public university; however, I saw the difficult classes as an opportunity to learn more, which I believed would help me later in life. I also knew the professors at College of the Ozarks would be more caring and more willing to help than those at other colleges.

How are students supposed to enjoy their senior year when there is a dark cloud called the future hovering over them at all times? Accordingly, during the college decision process, it is essential to take one step at a time. Students that are not set on what career they want to pursue can focus on what they are confident about instead: their talents. The journey in finding the right college can be stressful. In the College Preparation English IV class, there have been several discussions on the pressure that comes with choosing a higher education program and have looked at many different texts on the subject of uncertainty.

As a high school senior progresses towards their graduation day, making the the correct choice for their higher education institution is a very important decision that may affect them greatly in the long-run. Students are usually presented with the decision of attending either a two-year community college or a four-year university. Although, both higher education institutions are designed to teach and prepare individuals for their future career goals, some differences can be anticipated. As a result, attending a university and a community college may be compared to determine which institution is the most beneficial for a high school student in the areas of learning environment, cost of attendance, and student culture and campus life.

The expenses at IU and UofL are similar in a few ways. One similarity is the total costs in state. The estimated total cost on campus in state for IU is $24,719 (BigFuture). The estimated total cost on campus in state for UofL is $24,344 (College Navigator). However, there is a difference in the total costs out of state. The estimated total costs on campus out of state for IU is $48,072 (BigFuture). The estimated total costs on campus out of state for UofL is $32,232 (College Navigator). When comparing prices between the college that have been chosen, UofL would be the less expensive choice.

Everyone is told that they can be anyone they want to be, be anything they want to be, and go anywhere they want to go. I took this to heart and determined that I would go to my dream college, Washington University in St. Louis, and become an astounding author with an English degree to be proud of. However, I knew that I might need a backup college, and I settled upon Kansas University. Although the choice between the two originally seemed clear to me, after doing extensive research, my views were quickly morphed. While most people would chase after their dream college, I have found that facing reality, and choosing the so-called backup college, is by far the better choice.

From starting kindergarten to approaching to my graduation date, college has always been in my mind. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of attending a university that will help me achieve my goals and become the person I am destined to be. As I gradually become older, I searched for schools that will satisfy my expectations. I began to discover what I want from a university; a place that can help me succeed socially and academically, and help me determine who I am. I came across Baylor University and discovered that this university is where I belong.

The college search can be a stressful, and exhausting venture, but from the second I arrived on University of Tennessee’s campus, I knew I had to spend the next four years here. A majority of my peers stated that they “just knew” which college was best for them. Unlike these peers, I could name a plethora of reasons why this campus was meant to be where I spend my next four years, and one major reason was the Volunteer spirit that was so evident on campus.

Experiences throughout life can help shape people into stronger, more intelligent individuals. One of the most influential experiences an individual will ever face is deciding to better their education and continue onto college. Deciding to go to college is a major investment that will effect a person for the rest of their life. Unfortunately, such a large decision can be overwhelming, and many students, like myself, have to make the difficult realization that the University they chose was not the most beneficial choice.

If I am to attend Lees McRae, a private college, where the average cost to attend is around $43,000 (with about $25,000 for tuition and fees, $10,000 for room and board, $1,000 for books and supplies, and $7,000 for other expenses) I would major in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Lees McRae, in Banner Elk, can be found in the western mountains of North Carolina with a crime rate of about 1%, and housing about 1,200 permanent residents, two ski resorts, one museum and plenty of trails for hiking. Lees McRae has a very small number of students but there are many opportunities with a lot of land and even their very own wildlife rehabilitation center. They have a graduation rate of about 38.2% as of 2014, and about 20 clubs on campus which out those clubs

One of the wonderful aspects about college is that students are able to choose what college they want to go to, as opposed to being districted to a specific school, as many students are for high school. Potential students have the opportunity to browse schools based on options such as their major, what type of school they want to go to, and location. Now, however, more students are increasingly choosing their schools because of price. Because of this, some students may not get the most out of their education. Many students forego going to a school specialized or focused on their program due to the high costs associated with it. Students fear becoming burdened with debts and not receiving enough financial aid, and choose to go to affordable schools over their “dream school.” (Medrano,

“Which way to go?” Countless aspiring men and women oft repeat this question in their senior year of high school. The future seems daunting with its numerous choices and decisions. The question that is most predominant in their minds is which college do I choose? With there being close to 51,000 colleges this can seem quite an overwhelming task. “Very rarely is there going to be a clear cut 'yes' when it comes to making a college decision," says Weichman, who specializes in adolescent counseling in Newport Beach, Calif. "It's a huge commitment and any doubt in their decision process often increases their stress [and] anxiety—and they begin to question whether they're making the right decision or not." With all these factors and forces working

On February 23rd, 37 McAlester High School Juniors visited the Southeast Campus of Oklahoma’s largest community college. Tulsa Community College is not only the state’s largest community college with better than 26,000 students, it is one of Oklahoma’s most aggressive colleges offering more than 220 Associate Degrees and professional certifications. The excursion was just one of EOSC’s GEAR UP for Success grant’s annual planned college visits. As part of the mission of the GEAR UP Program, students are offered tours of the various colleges and universities across Southeastern Oklahoma’s vast region. By knowing what is “out there” and the different advantages and disadvantages for each of the institutions of higher education, students are able to make better informed choices in selecting the college or university that offers the best fit for the individual student.