Searcy (LP)- The time has finally come. It is our last semester of high school as seniors. One of the most important things about senior year is choosing the right college for you. Starting your college search with the basics will help you identify the colleges that will best suits you as an individual. Every student at Searcy High has different values and 
things they look for in a college. The size of the campus plays a huge role. Colleges come in all sizes, from a school that enrolls 5,000 students, to a university like University of Arkansas that can enroll 30,000 students. The size of a university all comes down to your own preference.
The cost of college is one of the first things anyone will look at. How much does it cost for four years? Will I be in debt after college? Every school has a different price to attend. Most schools offer financial aid, and scholarships. Students can get paid to go to college with certain ACT/SAT scores. Nobody has to pay the full price if they are willing to put in effort.
A senior at Searcy High, Jordan Skabronki claims, “I can get my college paid for me with my GPA and ACT score at Fayetteville.” Most colleges will offer full ride scholarships if you play a certain sport. Football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and pretty much any other sport that your university offers. Always remember, every small scholarship helps in the end. There are scholarships for pretty much everything. Some $1,000 and some $50. Public universities usually have much lower tuition rates than private scholarships. The college search doesn’t have to begin and end with the Ivies and the name brand schools.
There are many schools out there to choose from — some known and some less known, all worthy of your attention. Here’s some advice for trying to find the school that works for you. Senior, Samantha Dix says, “As soon as I visited the campus, I automatically knew I belonged there.” There is a school out there for everybody. By keeping all of these tips in mind, your senior year will become a little easier. This place will be your new home for the next four years, choose wisely, this is your future.
