C.S. Lewis once said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” The quote may be describing the feelings of teens as they move on from their past lives into a new environment.

Many AHS seniors are on the hunt for the college of their dreams. However, along the way, they are faced with many difficult decisions that each of them are forced to make in a timely matter. Decisions such as what town or city they would like to live in, how big of a university they would like to attend, the expense of their education, what they would like to study, and when they will schedule a visit.

Senior Heather Freund said she chose Northwest Missouri State University because of the superior elementary education program along with the small town feel surrounding the university. “I am looking forward to new experiences in college,” Freund said. Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri and is the home of the Bearcats.

The Assistant Director of Admissions at Simpson College, Dave Williams said, “Because we are such a small school, we take more of an individualized approach when trying to get to know each of the students to see if our college is a good fit for them.” Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa. The institute offers over 80 different academic majors and has a 99% placement rate of graduation.

“When looking for a college, I chose the one that felt the most welcoming,” Colton Mudd said, “I am planning on attending South Dakota State University to major in fisheries biology because I love to fish.” Mudd is looking forward to hunting and fishing with new friends in college.

Some students considering college must contemplate the quality of professors and course availability. It is a common thought by some people that you have to decide your major before going to college. However, this is a false assumption. College is a time to explore your options and opportunities. Opportunities such as being able to complete prerequisite courses during the first year of education. It is advised that students looking forward to furthering their schooling should have an idea of what they are interested in pursuing.

If you are concerned about not finding a college in time or have any questions about the topic, stop in and see Mr. Fredin or Mrs. Huber in the guidance office to discuss it.