College: To go or not to go.
Sarah Cohen
September 17, 2009
Filed under Features, Student Life
Imagine this scenario: you have just finished your homework and you are settling in to watch a little TV. When you turn on your favorite channel you see a commercial for an online college. There are people singing and dancing about the greatness of college. This commercial might seem a little cheesy to you (as it should), but it gets you thinking. Maybe college is the right option.
Mrs. Mottel, the career specialist here at NAHS says that “college is something most students have thought about.” Most students realize that going to college right after high school is a wise investment.
Junior Matthew Shaffer says he thinks that college is good because “it prepares you for the future.”
The problem is that many students don’t go past the thinking stage. A lot of students go through their high school careers not preparing for what lies ahead. Then, when they get to the end of their senior year, they realize that many opportunities have passed them by.
Mrs. Mottel says that students should start preparing for college in the 8th grade. She also said that students should start applying to colleges in the fall of their senior year. She suggested that students start taking their college boards in their junior year so if they don’t like their score they can try again.
College boards are tests like the ACT and the SAT. These scores will show colleges your academic ability. It is very important to do well on these tests if you hope to get into college. NAHS offers these tests to students on the following dates:
ACT
This test has an English section, an optional essay, no penalty for wrong answers and is graded on a 1-36 scale
Test Dates: Deadline to sign up:
October 24, 2009 September 18, 2009
December 12, 2009 November 6, 2009
February 6, 2009 January 5, 2009
April 10, 2009 March 5, 2009
June 12, 2009 May 7, 2009
SAT
This test has no Enlgish section, has penalties for wrong answers, a mandatory essay, and a highest possible score of 2400.
Test Dates: Deadline to sign up:
November 7, 2009 October 1, 2009
December 5, 2009 Oct 30, 2009
January 23, 2009 December 15, 2009
March 13, 2009 February 4, 2009
May 1, 2009 March 25, 2009
June 5, 2009 April 29, 2009
CSRA College Night at the James Brown Arena
Another good thing to do to start preparing for college is to go to college fairs. A college fair was recently held at the James Brown Arena. There were 150 colleges from all over the county represented. Over 10,000 people attended the fair and there was several thousands of dollars given in scholarship money. Junior Kimberly Dyches said that she saw “pretty much all the colleges” that she wanted to see.
College fairs are good because you can get brochures on colleges. These brochures provide good information.
Maybe you have read all this stuff, have heard your career counselors talk, have seen the commercials, and you still aren’t convinced that college is the right option for you.
It’s no secret, the economy stinks. Job security is a rare gift. Workplaces are rarely hiring, and if they are, they are looking for someone who is set apart. A college degree sets a person apart.
Junior Lindsey Wilk agrees she says that it is important to go to college because “it gives you and advantage in the working world.”
It is true that there are some jobs that don’t require degrees. If you are considering one of these careers you might think that there is no reason to go to college, but that’s not true. Even if won’t need a degree in the foreseeable future, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The time could arise where you are looking for another job and need a college degree. It’s better to go ahead and get a degree right out of high school. Mrs. Mottel says that students who go to college right after high school do better because “their minds are more ready to expand.”
Junior Taylor Wilson agrees saying that she will “most definitely go to college after graduation.”
Don’t let the myth that college is too expensive make you rule college out. College can be affordable with scholarships and loans.
With more and more people going to college and getting a degree, a high school degree just doesn’t cut it anymore. Whether you are a freshman or a senior you should start to prepare for life after high school. Make a list of goals that you wish to accomplish. Look into colleges, take your college boards and start doing well in high school As Principal Smith says “No one ever comes back in 20 years and says they wish they had studied less.”
