Palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy—common symptoms of those seniors infected with the annual college flu. Every year a new batch of students is expected to make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

College is very important, and sometimes necessary, for certain careers students might pursue. Senior Jamilee Yern plans to go to college “to prepare for a career in medicine.”

Miami High Class of 2016 alumnus Jorge Perez, who is studying engineering at Miami Dade College, said that a college education can provide him with lots of opportunities in a business career.

College can be an important experience for many, but it still isn’t for everyone. “If you’re just there to waste time or think that going to college is an obligation, you shouldn’t go,” said Miami High Class of 2016 alumnus Anthony Porras, who is studying marketing at Florida South Western State College. “You’re wasting resources that someone else could use.”

For those who might not be convinced they should go to college, it is important to note that you do have time to figure it out.  “Sometimes [college] doesn’t have to take place immediately after high school,” says CAP counselor Mr. Bain. “For some students, it is better to work, eliminate bad habits, and establish new ones before deciding on attending college.”

This year’s class of seniors has a variety of schools they are interested in attending. Diego Reyes is eyeing the west coast and UCLA, while Laura Palomino is looking up north at
Columbia.  Jamilee Yern laughed as she revealed that she had “a list of more than nine schools, including UM, FSU, UF, and FIU.”

It isn’t easy to get accepted into these schools, and they usually have some general requirements. Mr. Bain explained that for some schools, such as Miami-Dade College, all that is required is a high school diploma. In contrast, a school such as UM requires that a student has accomplished at a high level, requiring a high grade point average (GPA) and other things.

Still, meeting the requirements isn’t always enough to get admitted, so students should try to stand out from the crowd. Senior Brandon Chappoten believes that a lot of community service hours helps show college admission officers that you care about more than just your grades.

Mr. Bain also stresses that “a leadership role is regarded more highly than simple participation” in extracurricular activities.

While getting into college may be difficult, the expenses of it are usually the biggest obstacle. Senior Pablo Muñoz says, “I think college will be super expensive, but I’m willing to work to cover the expenses.”

Currently, the cost of attending schools varies. According to an article on the CollegeCalc website, the cost of one year’s tuition for Miami Dade College is $1,983 while the cost of attending Nova Southeastern University for one year is $26,910, and tuition for the University of Miami is $44,400. Even more expensive is Columbia University, a private Ivy-league college in New York City. According to an article on the website CollegeData, the cost of attending Columbia for one year, with room and board, is $71,690.

However, some students are hoping to get different types of financial aid or scholarships to help cover the expenses of college. Jamilee Yern comments, “I don’t think it will be too expensive for me because I have two scholarships.”

After worrying about admissions and costs, Stingarees have many different expectations about college life. Stephanie Aguilar, who is considering dentistry at the University of Florida, said, “I expect to meet a lot of people and experience a lot of school spirit, such as at football games.”

In contrast, senior Pablo Muñoz, who wants to work in the pharmaceutical field, is dreading all the stress and work he expects from college classes.

Although the class of 2017 is going through this college headache right now, the junior class better start preparing. Brandon Chappoten stresses, “Prepare for the SAT and ACT since they are pretty hard.”

Jamillee Yern advises for them to “balance having fun and maintaining their grades.”

Mr. Bain suggests for the juniors to stay focused and get the best grades they can, and for them not to be scared to come to his office for questions.