It’s that time of year again…seniors scramble to figure out who they are and where they want to go in the few months they have left to make one very important decision—college. Where to go, what to study–it’s enough to cause seniors enough stress to last them the year. But have no fear, because Mrs. Steiner from the College and Career Center has provided some answers about college that are sure to lessen your stress and guide your decision process, in addition to insightful results from my very own student survey.

Emily: Based on the senior survey last year, what colleges seemed to be the most popular?

Mrs. Steiner: The majority of students went to MCC, so that seems to be the most popular. Otherwise, five went to Drake, 13 went to U of I, seven to Illinois state, eight to Iowa State, seven to University of Iowa, five to UW Madison, five to UW Milwaukee, and five to UW Whitewater.

In my survey, students who have shown interest in colleges other than those listed above, including Illinois schools, Augustana and Loyola, attributed their appeal to factors such as their variety of available scholarships and majors. Senior Elaine Poole expressed her attraction to Augustana, sharing that she “[loves] the size, beauty, location, and personalization” and appreciates that the school “really [makes] a point about what they can do for YOU, and [informs] you about what your possible experience will be without simply trying to sell their school.”

Emily: What colleges offer the best scholarships?

Mrs. Steiner: University of Alabama offers really good ones. Iowa State offers $6,500 every year. In-state colleges don’t offer as much, giving out around $1,000 to $3,000. Missouri is another school that offers generous scholarships, and Ohio State as well with the Buckeye Scholarship.

In the student survey, the cost of college paired with scholarship availability proved to be a prominent factor in many students’ college search, as it landed a place in the top three most influential factors of 90% of the respondents. If you find that this is a factor crucial to your own college search, it may be helpful to research colleges with scholarships, using the ones Mrs. Steiner provided above as a starting point.

Emily: Do you have any suggestions for seniors who want to participate in Greek life during college?

Mrs. Steiner: I suggest rush recruitment. Students don’t have to pledge or join, but it’s wise to check out everything.

Throughout your decision process, be sure to take this advice to mind, and do not hesitate to drop by the College and Career Center with any other questions for Mrs. Steiner. Good luck on your college-selecting journey!