As one class finishes up the college process, another is just beginning. There are many things to check off the to do list as the year goes on. College applications are often thought of as the pinnacle of stress for seniors, but making that final commitment decision can be just as burdensome.

Senior Grace Mohr is heading off to University of Hartford this August. Before deciding on Hartford, Mohr was, like most seniors, weighing the pros and cons of one other school. Mohr says her second choice was the University of Scranton. Both schools fit Mohr’s list of ideals. Mohr says she was looking for “small class sizes, low student-teacher ratio, a PT [physical therapy] program and options for my major.” Mohr is looking to go into kinesthiology, or exercise science. Both of Mohr’s top choices offered her desired program and list of key points. 

The ultimate deciding factor for Mohr all came down to stepping on campus. Mohr visited both campuses multiple times before announcing her commitment to Hartford. Mohr explains there was a gut feeling she got when she arrived at Hartford. Mohr says, “I just really liked it and it wasn’t too big. People were friendly. I also really liked the way it was laid out.” Another bonus that might seem trivial, but was important for Mohr, was having access to air conditioning in the freshman dormitories. 

Westwood senior Abigail Goodell found herself in a similar situation this spring. The University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University topped her list of colleges. Goodell’s favorite thing about URI is its location near the beach. Goodell says she “looked for a small school on the east coast and made sure they had a nursing program,” when talking about her priorities in her college search. 

Similar to Mohr, Goodell made sure to visit both campuses before making a final decision on May 1. For Goodell it all ultimately came down to which opportunities were available to her. Goodell took advantage of her acceptance to the nursing program at Salve Regina and is now committed. 

After reviewing their college decision process in hindsight, both seniors have advice for the current junior class. Mohr stresses the importance of visiting campus before committing to college. She advises upcoming seniors to “plan as many visits as early as you can.” 

Time is an important factor in the college application process and getting tasks done early can make the experience less stressful. Mohr says. “I know a few friends who waited two days before decision day to decide and that’s really stressful.” Goodell adds to this, “do it early so you have time. Do the applications early. Get all that stuff done.”