What are your post-graduation plans? 

I’ll be attending American University, which is in DC, and I’ll be swimming.

How did you make your decision? 

So it was a really long process that honestly started freshman year. And it was something that I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I never knew exactly where. But then one of my good friends goes to American and she swims. And after she committed, she told me to look at it. So I did. And it had everything I wanted. I knew that I wanted to major in something to do with law, or English or anything around there. It was perfect to do that in DC. I loved the team atmosphere, and just going down there and getting to interact with the coaches and the swimmers was a really cool experience. 

How would you describe your post-grad search? 

So I knew that a lot of people from my club had gone on to swim in college. I created an account on this website called Swim Cloud. And I started looking at colleges and looking at the recruiting process of everything like that, but also, like what times I had to have in order to go to those colleges and what they might be looking for, because some colleges are looking for sprinters or distance swimmers. So I knew freshman year that I would have to get faster to swim in college, obviously, but just researching those times gave me a point to shoot towards a goal.

What advice do you have? 

Get on top of things early. Having a notebook was really helpful for me, especially when you’re having email interactions or calls with coaches, or you’re just deciding whether you want to reach out to them or not. It’s really great to keep a pros and cons list, just to keep track of all of it. It just really helps to weigh your decision.

What are your post-graduation plans?

My post-graduate plans are to join the electrician union when I turn 19 because right now I’m currently apprenticing with a family friend.

How did you make your decision?

It took a while. There’s a couple of reasons, mostly the money. When I took VoTech, it came to me as one of those things that wasn’t too hard to do. But also, not a lot of people were able to do it th same way I did it.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

Just realizing that I did need to make a decision soon coming out of high school. It’s one of the easiest things to do to make money without going to college, or going to a cheap college just to get a license.

What advice do you have?

Keep your eyes open for as long as you can but don’t keep them open so long that you close doors, or too late. Keep your options open, but know your deadlines.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to an Art School—School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

How did you make your decision?

I had a really big space and marine biology phase in middle school and early high school, but once I got more serious about art, I knew I wanted to pursue it. What I like about Chicago, specifically, is the school offers you a BFA, no matter what classes you take, which I think is pretty important. A lot of schools have pathways… I think that since art is always changing, especially with AI, it’s important that you’re qualified in more than one subject.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

I went to a lot of open house things, and I just applied all over, to be honest. I applied to MICA really last minute, and Chicago really last minute because I didn’t really do my research, but I just I thought they were good schools for what I was interested in.

What advice do you have?

I would say definitely research which path you want to take. Illustration is really confusing because it’s honestly just an umbrella term for commercial art and whether you want to be a freelance illustrator or work under a company…There’s multiple categories under that. That was like what was kind of confusing for me because I was like, isn’t everything illustration?

What are your post-graduation plans? 

I’m going to go to West Chester University. 

How did you make your decision? 

I wanted to stay close to home. And I visited the campus and everything. And it seemed like a really good school. And I got in there really fast. So that was the decision.

How would you describe your post-grad search? 

Pretty straightforward because I really didn’t apply to many different places. And I knew sort of what I wanted to find. So it really wasn’t as difficult as other people’s. I want to be something with an English major writing stuff like that literature.

What advice do you have? 

Don’t worry about it too much because I didn’t worry about it too much. But it is going to be a little stressful because that’s pretty much guaranteed. But if you just pay attention to when deadlines are and stuff then it’s pretty much straightforward.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to Columbia [College], Chicago for music.

How did you make your decision?

I was making music in middle school. And I took off with it. I decided to go to school for it post high school.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

I really just applied to schools that I thought had what I wanted. I had a niche of what I wanted. I wanted schools that have good music, but also that were just a good overall school, but music was mainly the big thing for me. Location wasn’t really that big of a deal. I just wanted to go to a school that was right for me.

What advice do you have?

Going into college, you’re not going to know what you want to do. It’s okay to not know. I’ve heard a lot of people say that [it’s] guaranteed you’re going to switch majors, so it’s okay to go undecided.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to college. Champlain College in Burlington.

How did you make your decision?

I think it just had the right location and the majors that it offered, because I’m majoring in game design. So it had a good program for that.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

It wasn’t that bad. Actually, my family hired a counselor. So she kind of helped me to look through stuff and fill out applications. For my major, I had to make a portfolio kind of thing. So I made a board game. I think that’s the hardest part.

What advice do you have?

I think it’s important to know where you want to be, location-wise. Like if you want big populations or [small] populations.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to be attending the [Delaware County] Community College and I plan on majoring in Computer Science.

How did you make your decision?

I’ve always wanted to go to college. So, it wasn’t about do I want to go? I’ve always wanted to go. I just didn’t picture myself going to community college…I was going to go to Holy Family like in Northeast [Philadelphia] but yeah. I just really thought… it’s gonna be a sacrifice but I’d rather save money and just transfer later on.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

At first I didn’t want to do it, to be quite honest. But then was just like, it is what it is, you know?

What advice do you have?

Don’t like feel forced to do it. Make the decision on your own. Don’t do it because other people are doing it or because, maybe, your parents are forcing you to. Just do it because you want to do it. You don’t want to be unhappy about your decision at the end of the day.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to be taking a gap year. I’ll be going to Kyrgyzstan for a year living with a host family and learning Russian. It’s a government scholarship to study abroad called the National Security Language initiative for Youth…After that, I will be attending Georgetown University.   

How did you make your decision?

I really love languages. And I’ve been trying to teach myself Russian for the past few years and I’m really excited that I got to take college classes in Russian this year. Especially because I’d done this virtual study abroad before and I really wanted to learn Russian much more intensively because turns out I’m not great with languages, and I needed that final push.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

I found out that it was an option because I knew a few people who had done it who are friends of my older siblings. So I figured I’d apply for it because it seemed amazing, and I was really humbled to get it. They have two options, either a summer program or an academic year program. I didn’t think I’d want to take off an entire year but I thought that’d be a lot better for gaining language proficiency.

It was also at least for me, really, really helpful when I was doing the college process because, in the back of my mind, I wasn’t 100% sure if I was going to take a gap year. I was not sure if I was going to get into the program at all. But it helped me whittle down my list a lot, because I knew that would I rather take a gap year than reapply again.

What advice do you have? 

I would say go for it. I’ve talked to a lot of people because I wasn’t sure if I was going to take a gap year or not. And I think that every single person I talked to said that it was a transformative experience and that I was really valuable for them. I think it changes you as a person a little bit, getting that kind of exposure to another way of life. I also just think that taking a gap year can be really, really useful if you’re working… because college is fantastic, but it’s not the path for everyone. Taking a year off can make that experience a lot more valuable. 

What are your post-graduation plans? 

I’m going to Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music to get a bachelors of music in saxophone performance.

How did you make your decision? 

It was kind of a two-step process for me. For a long time, I was really torn between music or science. I love both a lot. I think, over time, I’ve just gravitated more and more towards music. It was just a thing where I was afraid to go to it.

So I applied to engineering schools and to music schools and I got good options at both. And I pushed off the decision as long as I could. I eventually decided on music because I would have regrets about going the other way.  I think I owed it to myself to see how far I could take it, and to see what I could do with it, because I really do love it and it’s something I’m super passionate about.

I decided on IU Jacobs specifically because the professor there, Otis Murphy, is arguably the best saxophonist in the world. And he’s also a phenomenal professor. I got into IU and Northwestern for saxophone.  I wrote in an essay in freshman year that I wanted to go to IU to study saxophone with Otis Murphy, and so that’s why I ended up choosing IU. A lot of his students end up making it into military bands, which is what I want to do. 

How would you describe your post-grad search? 

There were times, probably like a year and a half ago, I would have said that I was leaning more toward engineering. I just wasn’t sure what I could do with music, but I learned a lot more about it, and how viable of an option it is.

What I envisioned myself being has always been a little bit uncertain. It was a scientist for a long time. It was an engineer, and it was a musician, and then it was an engineer. And now it’s back to musician.

What advice do you have? 

I’d say there are a lot of challenges that will come with music, a lot of challenges that I will have to face that anyone going into music has to face. Really think them over… but don’t let them discourage you from following your dreams. Don’t let them discourage you from following what you’re really passionate about. As long as you really maintain your love for what you’re doing, you’re going to find success.

My advice would be, don’t let any potential challenges in the field hold you back. As long as you’re prepared for them and you’re prepared to overcome them, then you’ll absolutely succeed at what you’re doing.

And as far as the auditions go… it’s annoying to deal with. But the more time you give yourself to prepare the music, then the better off you’ll be. I’d say just practice auditioning. Practice playing for other people. 

What are your post-graduation plans? 

I’m going to go to LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) school which is licensing year-long program. After I graduate, I’m going to go to nursing school at Delaware County (Community College) for two years and get my associates. And then I’m going to do the bridge program there so I can go to a university for two more years to get my bachelor’s degree in nursing.

How did you make your decision? 

I actually enjoy helping people and my mom is a nurse. There are a lot of people in my family that are nurses. It’s a good job to have, it’s a guaranteed one, it’s never gone. We’re always going to need nurses. Say if something like Covid happens again I’m going to always have a job. 

How would you describe your post-grad search? 

I had to take a TEAS test, it’s basically like a placement test but not really. It’s math, reading, and science. I took it at Delaware County [Community College]. You have to score between a 44-57. It was a hard test but that’s all you have to do. It’s a full-time program, every day 8:30-4:15, there are clincials and stuff. 

What advice do you have? 

I would say stay focused. When you go to nursing school, you’re not going to have a lot of time to hang out, but it’s worth it in the long run. It’s a good thing to do. People respect you for it. If you actually enjoy helping people you should go into the medical field.

What are your post-graduation plans?

Oberlin College.

How did you make your decision?

I stressed a lot between another college that’s the opposite of Oberlin, but so much cheaper. But I decided ultimately that for me wanting a very hands-on, close learning environment, and to be with my best friend in the world Rhys [Hals], that Oberlin was a better option and a better investment.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

A nightmare. A dark nightmare. With stress and essay after essay and no help from guidance. And there was not ever a point where I was like, this is worth it. Maybe there will be in four years.

What advice do you have?

I would say you have to know what you want. Then you need to have a good coping mechanism. I did yoga. What else? I did a lot of talking about it, an excessive amount of talking.

What are your post-graduation plans?

This summer I plan on getting a job and going to the gym, get in shape. Then for college, I’m going to the University of the Arts in Philly.

How did you make your decision?

I’ve always been interested in art. I found it a way to get stressed out of the way and deal with emotions. I guess. It’s also just something I like to do, just drawing and got you.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

I was just scrolling through colleges and noticed it was in Philly, and had nice dorms and everything I was looking for. So yeah, it was pretty convenient for me. It was close to home. I was looking at Temple’s program, and their own school called Tyler School of Art. And then at PAFA for fine arts or something? I don’t know. So, yeah, I was looking at a couple of other schools.

What advice do you have?

You shouldn’t feel bad if you’re getting a late start, like if you need to take a gap year or, like collect your thoughts. That’s fine, because not everyone knows what they want to do. Because, you know, not everyone’s as lucky as me to be as interested in something as I am in art. So, you know, you’ll be okay.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to be attending the Air Force Academy. I’m looking to fly for them. I’ve actually been working on my pilot’s license for a little while now.

How did you make your decision?

Probably my mom, honestly. She kind of got me into flying. And then my brother attended the Naval Academy. So he’s kind of like my military background. And then I saw that the Air Force specializes in a lot of the flying, obviously. So that’s kind of what I wanted to do.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

[I found out about it] through my brother. And my sister went to school out in Colorado—that’s where the Air Force Academy is. I visited and loved it, it was super cool. And they told me all the programs they have.

What advice do you have?

Don’t procrastinate. The Academy is a lot of work just to apply, because you have to do so many interviews and a lot of essays. It kind of all built up during fall time. I definitely was very, very stressed. They say your senior year is your best year. But I was definitely the most stressed I’ve ever been.