For many, if not all Magnet seniors, choosing the campus they step onto in the fall is one of the largest decisions they will ever have to make (or at least up until this point in their lives). With applications, acceptance letters, financial aid, and pressure from everyone around them, the choice can easily become overwhelming. Seniors spend months researching different schools, writing college essays, and touring different colleges, and then waiting for acceptance letters that will dictate the next four years of their life.

But what actually determines the final decision?

A survey of Magnet seniors over the past few weeks asked students about the factors that go into choosing a school, the pressure of the decision, and what surprised the student the most. The answers reveal that while the school the student chooses is one of the most discussed topics of our high school years, the decisions themselves are actually based on much more personal choices.

Fit Over Prestige

One of the more obvious trends in this student survey was the importance of personal fit.

Some students emphasized how aspects such as campus life, location, and overall lifestyle at a school can be just as important as academics.
While academics remain a vital aspect of a student’s decision-making process, they want to be able to picture their lifestyle at a school.

Senior Aayush Bansod offered this advice for younger students:
“Do a lot of research beforehand about not just academics but dining halls, gyms, dorms, and campus life. A huge help would be talking to a current freshman who is attending the college you’re looking at and getting a feel for things from their perspective.”

Campus lifestyle can be a big part of a student’s decision because it can make a school feel like a true home for them. Personal fit can also be a factor in a student’s decision.

Senior Amelie Gilmore said:
“Location and activities to do there. I have anxiety and need to feel comfortable and safe.”

These responses illustrate that it’s about more than just rankings or admissions statistics. Ultimately, it’s about a place where a student simply feels comfortable and content.

When Dream Schools Change

Another trend among these students was how often their “dream school” changed throughout the admissions process.

While many students enter high school with a specific school in mind, this perception is subject to change as they further engage and learn more about admissions statistics, financial aid, and what they want out of a college or university.

Senior Kyler Richardson explained how his perception of a perfect school changed dramatically during this process.

“Realism, acceptances, financial aid letters, desperation, begrudging acceptance.”

Richardson relayed that initially, prestige was a much greater component of how he perceived a potential college life.

“My dream school had always been whatever school sounded like it had the best political science and international relations programs because it had the most prestige in the USA.”

However, for Richardson, such opportunities as study abroad and other academic resources became more intriguing than going to an impossibly prestigious school.

His advice for younger students:

“The most important thing is to tune out others in the decision making process. This is your life, and you need to choose what is best for you—where will you end up having the least debt, be the happiest, and have the best programs for your interests.”

He went on to say that the prestige of the school doesn’t matter as much as you think.

“Two weeks after graduation from AMHS, nobody will remember the prestigious college you chose.”

Academic Expectations and Reality

Academic performance can also certainly be a factor in the way students view their college decision.

Senior Jacob Lipschutz said his expectations considerably shifted as he went throughout the ebbs and flows of Magnet rigor, and found out how immense the competition truly is for reach schools.

“When I was a freshman, I told my guidance counselor during my IGP that I wanted to go to UPenn while she was looking at my grades.”
Students’ expectations change as they gain more understanding of the requirements and themselves.”

As a student becomes exposed to the depths of the admissions process and their own academic abilities, many adjust their schools of choice to match reality.

But of course, there’s many exceptions.

Senior Sam Galloway is one student who never wavered in his decision.

“I’ve had a Clemson debit card since 9th grade.”

Clearly, while some students change their priorities during this grueling process, others stick by their initial decision.

The Time and Stress of the Process

Another surprising element for several seniors was how long this entire decision-making process would take.

Senior Henry Serano claimed he thought this whole process would be over a lot sooner than it actually was.

“I was surprised by how long it took. I assumed I would be done with it all by the end of November.”

So for all the underclassmen who have become blasé about their grip on their schedules…just wait, because it is an endeavor that feels almost endless.

Therefore, Serano said he would advise younger students to begin this process sooner than they might think.

“I would tell younger students to start early.”

Other students also commented on the surprise they felt at the size of the process, particularly the number of schools they choose to apply to.

Applying to a number of schools has become the norm, as the admissions process has become increasingly and less predictable each and every cycle.

More Than Just a School

While the decision for the majority of our Senior is based on a number of factors such as academics, financial aid, location, and comfort level, many begin the decision-making process based on the reputation and prestige of the schools they have heard about for years.

However, as they research the schools and consider the opportunities and needs they have as students and young adults, many shift their focus. Ultimately, the decision comes down to which school is the best place for them.

This daunting choice is not really about the next four years in a specific institution. It is more about finding a place where students can challenge themselves intellectually and socially, breaking out of the mold, in order to start building their future.