As graduation approaches, the questions about where everyone is going to college grow more frequent. Rarely does a day go by where I am not caught up in a conversation about college or asked where I am going to school. The answer is still “I don’t know yet”. That answer is also true for many members of the senior class. Some students are still waiting on financial aid information or trying to see if they will get off a waitlist, while some are just trying to figure out where they really want to be next year.

The daunting reality for seniors though is that admission deposits are due May 1st . I thought that by applying to schools early action it would ease some of the stress of having to make a decision about college and that I would have more time to think about where I really wanted to go. Yes, I have had a few months to think about where I want to go next year, but as time goes on, everything seems to become more complicated.

In a perfect world everyone would have a first choice school that they are sure they want to go to, apply, get accepted, then send their deposit and be done with the college process. This does happen for some people, but for the majority or seniors, it is not this easy. From my own experiences and stories I’ve heard from others a kink in the system usually shows up. Some people do not have a first choice right off the bat, people get denied, deferred, waitlisted, and possibly denied again. Then financial aid decisions come out and that changes the game again.

With all these variables coming into effect, I don’t think it should be seen as uncommon or strange for seniors to be unsure of where they are going the day decision letters come out. By May 1st, some seniors might still not know where they are going to college. By graduation, some seniors might still not know. However, deposits are due May 1st so everyone will have to have a final decision made or a second choice. Some seniors may decide to stay on a wait list somewhere, and they could still be waiting until June to have a final decision.

A senior who wished to remain anonymous said, “Being waitlisted at my top two choices is very frustrating and annoying. I feel lost and confused not knowing where I will be going until June. I will have to put a deposit down on another school, which I have mixed feelings about because I could or could not end up going there. Also knowing that there is about a 30% chance of getting off the waitlist is pretty discouraging.”

In an interview about waitlists and seniors having to decide on colleges, Mr. Miller gave some very helpful advice. He said, “Communicating with a school that you are on a waitlist for is really important as to let them know your level of interest. Anything you can do to continue to communicate with that college is a really good idea.”

Making a decision about where to go to college is an important one. It is also natural for people to want to know where their classmates are going to school. But, the pressure of being asked constantly if you have made a decision can become repetitive and stressful for a lot of seniors. For anyone still deciding between colleges know that you are not alone while time seems to be running out.

Mr. Miller he gave a few tips about how to decide on the college that is right for you. “I think a lot of it will be that gut feeling you have on a campus and that vibe that you get.” He added, “Sitting in on a class is a good idea just to get a sense of how involved the students are and how interesting the faculty are.”

Another helpful tip he gave was to go and have a conversation with your college counselor about what your thoughts about colleges are. “It can just help you talk it through and figure out what’s really important to you and what’s maybe not.”

As this stressful time of the year comes to an end, it is important to step back and reflect on all the hard work that went into the college process from visits over the summer to writing draft after draft of essays and supplements. As for me, I still have to make a decision, but my advice to anyone in the same situation is to just go with what feels right to you and to do what will make you happiest.