College is something that every person has to think about in life. Marist seniors are in the process of visiting and choosing colleges. Seniors are getting ready to graduate and next school year they may be college students. 

During this challenging time, Marist students have the access to college counselors, Nicole Peterson and Allison Culver. Their offices are located in the main office. 

To make the process of finding the right school a little less stressful, there are a few key things to consider in your search: location and distance from home, cost, fee, majors, campus life, safety, and much more. 

Attending college fairs is a great way to learn about many different resources a school has to offer. Students research should include some college tours and discussions with college admissions officers. 

The location of the school is one of the most important things to consider. Are students going to be comfortable leaving your family and friends? That is something Erin Julian, freshman at Ohio University, considered while picking a college. 

“It was hard leaving my mom but I knew that I was doing the best thing for myself,” she  said.

According to experts, students need good mental and physical preparation.

“I’m scared to look at colleges but my mom and I started making lists of the things I need to have and be able to do in college,” said junior Ellie Vahl. 

Preparing for college includes making sure that students are ready for a greater level of independence and responsibility. It’s important to build basic life skills, do laundry independently, work with family to manage your medications, go grocery shopping and prepare simple meals. Even the small steps will pay off in the long run during this transition to the next phase of life. 

Maintaining a high GPA is also crucial during this time. Academic success has been a priority for the first three years of high school, but senioritis can make it easy to let grades slip. If students slacked their senior year with AP level classes, maintaining a high GPA can be challenging. 

College admissions committees do look at senior year grades so it’s important to stay focused. 

It’s going to be a hard process. But remember, everything students worked for throughout grammar school and high school is now paying off.