Choosing the perfect college an important move

By Josh Grissom

Wasilla High School

WASILLA — It’s that time of year again, when high school seniors commemorate their four-year journey with an elaborate graduation ceremony, marking another major milestone in the lives of many students.

The majority of these graduating seniors will choose to pursue a post-secondary education, usually deciding to attend a collegiate institution. The search for the perfect college can be particularly stressful to high school seniors, especially when they are unsure of what they are looking for in a school. The three most basic components to consider when looking at colleges are the cost of tuition, the location of the campus, and the reputation of the university’s academic courses.

Tuition costs are perhaps the most important factor when it comes to deciding on a college. The financial situation of a high school graduate’s family usually determines whether the student can attend a private or public university.

However, there are many different scholarships and grants available to hard-working students striving to further their education in a financially manageable way. An added bonus is free student federal aid can help many students finally afford to attend a college of their own choosing, regardless of finances. In addition, many colleges offer part-time work programs to encourage potential students to pursue their education goals while providing a means of monetary compensation for the cost of tuition.

In addition, a graduating high school senior should consider the location of the college campus, especially in relation to that student’s hometown. Many graduates aspire to attend an out-of-state college simply because it provides a feeling of independence and a new atmosphere. This poses a difficult situation for many Alaska students, as studying outside the state creates distances of hundreds of miles from home, as well as expensive costs of plane tickets and attendance fees. However, programs such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange and the WWAMI partnership help combat this by providing Alaska students the opportunity to attend an affordable college in the Northwest, one that’s relatively close, too.

The final factor to consider is the notoriety of a university’s academic courses. Many esteemed businesses will choose employees from colleges that are known for their stimulating and rigorous academics programs. Depending on the student’s future career path, the choice of a college could be a make-or-break decision. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that the college students choose to attend will provide them the necessary education needed to pursue their dream jobs.

In addition, many universities are known for producing students of a certain academic discipline, such as medicine, art or philosophy. It is important for high school graduates to do some research into the colleges that they are interested in so that they can obtain a better feel for the atmosphere of the university and the courses they will use while on campus.

Overall, the search for the perfect college brings about many diverse options for graduating students, especially those from Alaska. While this situation is known for being particularly stressful for graduates, a little research and preparation can help smooth the process.

High school graduation should be a time of celebration for seniors as they have reached one of life’s major milestones. For most of these seniors, college and other post-secondary educational institutions are the next step on the road to independence, so it is crucial they research their college options and decide on the university that is the right fit for them and their future plans in life.

Josh Grissom is a senior at Wasilla High School in Paula Wright’s journalism class.