As the graduating class of 2026 spends their final days at OH, many of them have already committed to their next steps after high school.
To help them find that path prior to May 1’s national commitment day, many used the OH College and Career Center.
“I usually ask [students] to pick five things that they think will make them successful in college that have nothing to do with the major and nothing to do with the finance,” said OH Head of the College and Career Center Tracey Kroger. “How far away do you want to be? Do you want to be in the city? Do you want to be in the country? Do you want to be at a big school, at a small school?”
The factors that students take into account when saving up for college are more than just what they plan to study.
“Sometimes we open up the majors to see the classes and programs that are offered at each school, to see if we can narrow down, like the classes that they would rather take,” said Kroger.
When picking out the schools, some students come prepared with an idea of where they want to go, which can help narrow down their school selection.
“I knew I wanted a big school, so I applied to like U of I, Purdue, Mizzou,” said OH senior Kimmie Reichard, “but then I also wanted to take a safe route and apply to a few little schools like Missouri State, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and NIU.”
While applications to several schools can be stressful, there are ways to help make the process smoother.
“It’s pretty stressful because you have a bunch of essays and a bunch of deadlines, but if you get started early and take your time and just don’t stress about it. It’s way easier than anticipated,” said Reichard.
Another path for students is to start more locally and transfer later on to another college, as it can help with being a stepping stone.
“I applied to Waubonsee Community College because I plan to go [there] for two years, boost my GPA, and then go to another school,” said OH senior Meteo Vasquez.
While a student might not be accepted to all colleges to which they apply, a single rejection doesn’t mean the process is over.
“Don’t feel like when you get rejected once, like it’s the end of the world. There are more colleges out there that might fit you best, and you don’t know it,” said Vasquez.
You can just call me Max. I write about things that interest me. This is my second year on the team and I'm in 12th grade. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication
