Summer break is right around the corner. As the school year is coming to an end, seniors are making a big decision. They are faced with the question, “What should I do after high school?” Last year at Cretin-Derham Hall, about 87% of students pursued higher education at four year colleges and universities, and an additional 4% of students pursued higher education at a community college or technical school. Additionally, around 40% of CDH graduates went to school in-state, while 60% of students chose out of state institutions.
Choosing a college is no easy feat. There are many factors that play a role in the decision, such as size, location, and financial aid opportunities. Some students want to stay close to home, while others are eager to move across the country. Laura Nelson, one of the college counselors, has shared some input on the college admissions process for this year.
While all of the data is not available yet for the class of 2025, likely about 95% of students will pursue higher education. Plans for the other 5% of graduates include gap years, junior hockey, and work opportunities.
“I have some data, but we haven’t dissected it in depth yet. We have some loose ideas, but not the firm numbers. Likely, about 95% of our graduating seniors will decide to pursue higher education, whether that be a four year or two year school,” said Nelson.
Many students have decided to stay in the Midwest, attending schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. However, some have chosen schools that are farther away. A popular school that graduating seniors have chosen is the University of Iowa.
“I have noticed that a lot of students have chosen the University of Iowa this year. A big percentage of students are staying in the Midwest region, but I’ve also seen a lot of students going further away,” said Nelson.
Students who started their applications early, worked hard on their essays, and asked questions when needed were very successful in this process.
“Students were the most successful when they planned ahead, worked on applications early, tweaked essays, and asked questions. Also, staying in touch with admissions counselors seemed to play a big role.
Seniors this year did a great job planning appropriately by having a wide variety of schools on their list. The most notable struggle for CDH seniors who applied to college this year was being waitlisted or deferred. Many students still have an interest in colleges where they have been waitlisted, but have yet to receive a response.
“For the most part, the seniors had a good list of schools they applied to. Most of them had options that they were happy with, but it was hard for students who got deferred or waitlisted from certain schools. There are still students who are waitlisted at schools and have not heard back yet, and they are still possibly considering those schools.
Incoming seniors should keep an open mind when applying to colleges next year. Choosing a college is a very difficult task, and students should take ownership of this big decision.
“Embrace the opportunity to take ownership over this endeavor, because it is your life and it is going to be your future. Take the time that you need to do your own research so that you can figure out what your best fit is going to be,” Nelson said.
