By Cameron Hill
How do you make a life-changing decision? That is a question all Tempe Prep seniors have faced in the past few months, as they choose where they are going to spend the next 4 years of their lives.
National College Decision Day is May 1 and high school seniors across the nation must choose where they want to go. This decision naturally is important: you must decide what kind of community you want to live in and what academic environment you desire. These four years help shape who you become and lead you down paths that may determine your future.
The TPA Class of 2022 has tackled this process and has a lot to share about making the decision easier. Seniors Caroline Webster and Lainey Wait both had many schools to choose from, including Gonzaga, UCLA, Boston College, Pepperdine, Northeastern, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. Despite the variety of choices, Lainey and Caroline decided on colleges that made them each happy.
Both shared tips to navigate the decision process. Caroline and Lainey emphasized the importance of visiting the campus of colleges you are interested in. Caroline said, “Being on campus and envisioning yourself as a student is the best way to decide if it is a good fit for you.” Lainey agreed and said “how the campus felt” was “really important” to her decision.
Another important factor to remember is financial aid. No one wants to be in debt, so sometimes the college that offers you the most money is the best option.
Caroline also advises to “(not) make yourself miserable!” She recommended putting the decision into perspective. “It was really just like picking what flavor of ice cream I wanted,” she said. “It is a big decision, but no decision is going to make or break your whole life.” Lainey says to “focus more on how you feel,” not “all of the opinions other people give you.”
At the end of the day, the most important thing is making a choice that makes you happy and, no matter what, the four years will be what you make of them.