With a countdown posted on the window in the Building 7 office and students finally deciding where they will spend the next four years, it’s an exciting time for the senior class! March is also a big month for those seniors who are still eagerly waiting for college decisions, like myself. Although the Class of 2017 has a lot to look forward to, the most exciting (and stressful) thing about graduating this year is ensuring that you’re choosing the right school for you.

Whenever I began to tour schools, I had no idea what I truly desired in a college, so a pretty campus was enough to draw me in. However, my new criteria for liking a school are much more complex. I now judge a school’s qualities based mainly on its academic opportunities, and then take the cosmetic traits into account. The most important factors in a college education are arguably internship opportunities, student-to-faculty ratio, course options, and study abroad availabilities (depending on whether or not you want to take advantage of this). I strongly advise all underclassmen to heavily weigh these elements of a school above all because it will affect you in the long-term.

These seniors have already made their decisions and most likely developed a similar formula for choosing their new home. Here is a list of students who have already chosen where they’ll be attending college:

Texas A&M – Gracie Leis and Hunter Nelson

Brigham Young University – Jake Beckstead

University of Texas at Austin – Kristina Hill

Centenary College – Meg Hamilton

Oral Roberts University – Esteban Cardenas

Rice University – Raquel Marroquin

Abilene Christian University – Teddy Lewis

California State University Fullerton – Kate Ferrell

Harvard University – Max Gay

Baylor University – Tim Harrison and Sam Petro

Savannah College of Art and Design – Morry Li and Julia Rebhorn

Grossmont College – Brady Abt

University of Miami – Sarah Navid

Congratulations to all of the seniors already confident in their decisions for college, and good luck to those still undecided!