Senior year.

The last year of high school. Schedules are centered around the famed pottery and culinary courses. Underclassmen often find themselves envying the seniors position. Most twelfth graders have the ability to drive, get a senior trip, and, most importantly, are counting down the days until they graduate. 

   On the surface, senior year seems to be carefree. However, many overlook are the momentous decisions made throughout senior year. Speaking from my experience, I can say most of my conversations revolve around college. My lunchtime talk is centered around discussing dream schools, SAT scores, and most importantly what careers we want to pursue.

    I’m sure most seniors would agree that the infamous question of what we want to study or where we want to study has come up at some point in conversation. It’s never an easy question to answer. How at just seventeen and eighteen years old are we expected to decide our future?

   Students spend their high school years building a resume in hopes to pursue a career in business, but in just one day that could completely change. It feels as if an immense decision must be made in such little time.

    Much of our time is spent delving into the college world. Summers are dedicated to SAT and ACT courses in hopes of improving our test scores. Decisions must be made regarding the size, and type of campus we’d like to attend. While looking at these factors, the expectations of the college also have to be taken into consideration.

    After touring several colleges this past summer it felt as if none of them were a fit. Then, I visited Pittsburgh University. 

   I loved everything about the campus. Being at a school where I could see myself, lifted a weight from my shoulders. Yet, when I looked deeper into the school’s expectations, I saw that my SAT score fell just twenty points below their expected math score.

   Obviously the SAT isn’t ultimately the deciding factor when it comes to acceptance, but it’s a frustrating feeling. Something as small as twenty points could determine where I would spend my next four years. I finally found a school where my future seemed clear. But there is always a possibility of being rejected. This is the case for many students. Many of my peers have their eyes set on one school, not taking into account other possibilities.

   It’s a stressful decision. We are often told that it doesn’t necessarily matter where you go to college because it’s what the student makes of it. But college is where we are expected to spend our fours years or more which ultimately lead to our future. We should have one school in mind that checks off all our hopes in a university.

    With schools beginning to accept applications, the anticipation of where I may go to school is rising. Although I haven’t even sent out an application it feels as if I’m awaiting results. Several questions constantly circulate my mind: Where will I end up going to school? What career do I want to pursue? Will I get into my dream school? 

   Unfortunately many of the answers to these questions won’t be determined until May 1st, the day college decisions become final. So until then, the idea of college will remain on my mind, and my senior year will be anything but easy.