With senior year already half way over, the time is approaching for many students to choose the next path of their lives- what college they want to go to. For many, this choice is not easy because of the many schools out there to choose from, all with varying positives and negatives. If college is the next step in your journey, there are many things you can do to hopefully find the right college for you, or at least narrow it down in time for application deadlines.

The first step in choosing a college is choosing your major, or an idea of potential majors, so you can figure out what schools have your career route. The college doesn’t have to be known for your major, but the better the program, the more your degree will be worth.

“Because I want to major in animation, choosing a school was hard for me because there weren’t many choices for me to choose from in Texas,” senior Linsey Ross said. “It may take awhile to find the major for you, and a college that fits it, but there will be one that’s right for you in the end.”

Once you have a list of schools, either touring them virtually, or through a campus tour in person will narrow it down for you.

“After going to SFA a lot from visiting my siblings, I fell in love with the campus and the community in Nacogdoches,” senior Michael Long said. “The first time I visited campus I knew right then that Stephen F. Austin was the school I wanted to go to, the other colleges I visited didn’t give me the same feeling.”

If you have the problem of deciding between many colleges you like, check the job and internship opportunities, and different clubs and activities offered at each school. One school may have more ways to get connected than another, and that is a good way to make friends and enjoy your time outside of class.

“I want to get the full experience in college so I think its very important to really get connected on campus in every way you can,” senior Kiley Cox said. “When researching, I found out that Oklahoma State University had so many clubs that interested me as well as one of the top sororities in the United States, and that sealed the deal for me.”

Even with all of the activities and internship opportunities a college has, a beautiful campus, and your choice of major, you still need to make sure the college you pick is at a price you will be able to live with and pay off when you finish and get a job. You do not want college to take a toll on your life, you want it to improve your life.

“Since I am paying for my own college, the price of my education is a major factor in choosing which college is for me,” senior Raneem Albastoni said. “You may think one college is for you, until you see the crazy prices. I would recommend looking at the prices before you get too attached to a college because you don’t want to get your hopes up, or just apply for as many scholarships as possible.”

There are many things to look for and think about when picking the college you want to go to, and although it can be stressful,  all of the research and time you put in deciding will be worth it once you find the school that is for you. Your choice not only carries on to your next four years, but for the rest of your life, so take your time deciding and choose wisely.

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