As we all know, college and time after high school is fast-approaching for the seniors at Winthrop High. It is no secret that this can be very, very overwhelming, especially for seniors without an older sibling who has already graduated and been through the process. To help Winthrop High seniors better determine their path after high school, I asked Mr. Leonardo and Mrs. D’Amico for some advice. Check out what they said below.

Mr. Leonardo:

Take this advice for what it is worth, but one thing that should be in the minds of college applicants is that you are a customer who must be convinced to “buy” the product, which is the school. That includes the dormitories, meal programs, food options, nightlife, spring concert, blah, blah, blah…

College admissions have changed since I graduated, and the reality is that more students are applying, which means the demand is much higher, but the supply of “dream colleges” is still relatively low. Your school of choice should hit a few fronts: strong department/professors in your field or major, enjoyable campus life (prioritize here!), and comfortable geographic location. Although some of the amenities referenced above may be essential factors in your decision, in twenty years, you will not be telling stories about how great the pasta bar was. The stories will be about the fun and exciting moments created with friends, roommates, and teammates; it is that simple. By the way, it is okay to be nervous about leaving home, but nervousness is NOT a reason to avoid the far away school; you can always come back home.

Mrs. D’Amico:

My best piece of advice is, if college is the route you want to take, make sure that you tour it thoroughly and make sure it’s a place you see yourself for four years. You wouldn’t buy a house you “kinda liked”, college should be the same. It’s expensive and going to be a place that you live, work, and play at for 4 years, you want to make sure you like it. Although you can transfer, I transferred when I was a freshman, it’s a challenge.  I think if I did more research initially I wouldn’t have had to transfer because I wouldn’t have gone to that university in the first place.

Now for some of my thoughts. Without sounding completely redundant, I do feel that it is important to do what you want to do following graduation. Whether that be attending college, working, or even taking a year off – it is important to do what you want to do. It is your life after all, and only you can decide how to live and fulfill it to the best of your ability. I thank Mr. Leonardo and Mrs. D’Amico for contributing to this article.