When students prepare for college, a variety of pressures come with the process.
However, the search looks different for every student.
Senior Louisa Sterritt will attend USC Upstate in the fall. Her process included taking the SAT and choosing career-focused classes for her senior year.
“Starting my junior year, I really started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life,” Sterritt said. “I considered careers and looked at what colleges best fit those things.”
“I knew I wanted to stay close to home,” she said. “So I looked at local colleges.”
Some students begin feeling pressure earlier and start the search process sooner.
Junior Camille Barnett has already toured multiple schools and communicated with college counselors.
“When you go and look at college campuses, you kind of realize the community and environment of the college just by looking at the campus,” Barnett said.
Narrowing options can mean making life-changing decisions, which adds to the pressure.
Senior Gracie Greenway applied to five schools and has been accepted to all of them.
“I feel like the closer you get to graduation, there are certain deadlines you have to meet,” Greenway said.
Greenway said cost and her intended career path are major deciding factors.
The application process itself can also create stress.
“Applications are open on Aug. 1 of their senior year,” Career Development Facilitator Catherine Gramling said. “That means you need to narrow down your selection by the summer of your senior year.”
The process may also include applying for scholarships and weighing additional considerations.
“Students need to take several things into account when applying to college: location, cost, majors and programs offered, student life, et cetera.,” Gramling said.
Guidance counselor Ra’chelle Roberson said the process does not have to feel overwhelming.
“If they take a deep breath and just be willing to be uncomfortable in this process and do their research, they will be more confident in the process overall,” Roberson said.
