Every year, as May 1 approaches, graduating seniors face one of the most significant decisions of their lives: they must choose where they will continue their education after high school. By May 1 each year, which is National College Decision Day, most students have finalized their college commitments and proudly represent their future schools throughout the halls of Homestead High School.
This year, seniors celebrated their decisions by wearing college apparel to school on May 1, marking the transition into their next chapter.
Senior Catie Wudy celebrated her commitment to the University of Texas at Austin, but feels that attending an out-of-state university is both exciting and intimidating.
“I’m most nervous about the number of people [from Texas] at my school, and there aren’t many people from my own state there,” Wudy said.
For other students, location and campus culture played a major role in their decision-making process. Senior Kennedy Klueger felt that both led her to choose Coastal Carolina University.
“I committed to Coastal Carolina University. It’s in South Carolina, and what stood out to me was that it’s right by the beach, and it’s a nice party school,” Klueger said.
While many seniors are choosing to leave Wisconsin for college, others are staying closer to home. Senior Jules Levine will be attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and her decision was influenced by both academics and lifestyle preferences.
“The weather was a big factor. I don’t like really hot places, so that was important, and I wanted to go to a big school with a lot of people,” Levine said.
School counselors also guided students through the college decision process. Counselor Lauren Schaefer emphasized the challenges and growth that come with the transition to college.
“[College] just requires a much higher level of independence, and it’s a lot to organize into a plan. I think it’s a lot for students to process, taking it step by step as they prepare for it, but it’s also incredibly important for them,” Schaefer said.
As seniors make their final commitments, the halls of Homestead High School reflect a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and anticipation for the future ahead.
“It’s important that [seniors] give themselves permission that [their] plan doesn’t have to look the same as everybody else’s plan, and it’s OK if [they are] still making decisions in these next few months,” Schaefer said.
