Now that senior year is coming to an end, seniors are deciding where they are going to college or what they want to do in their future. It is a big decision that can come with a lot of stress. 

Sehar Gogia will be attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass) this upcoming fall. She is majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. UMass Amherst is the largest public research university in New England, having top-ranked academic programs and research. Gogia was asked why she chose this school. “UMass has a very strong academic reputation and has great opportunities for research since having ties with Massachusetts General Hospital,” Gogia said. “UMass is also a very big school with tons of diversity and I will be able to meet a lot of new people.” She hopes to attend Medical School and feels that attending UMass Amherst will set her up for success.

Evan Peters is going to trade school to become an electrical engineer at Granite State Electrical Company. Peters hopes to start his own business one day and feels that trade school will set him up for success. “I won’t have to take out loans for college and can start making money right out of high school,” Peters said. “I also have never been a person who enjoyed school so I feel that this is the best option for me.”

Abby Haskell is going to the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). She is majoring in Neuroscience in hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. UT Austin is ranked the 10th best public school in the U.S. and has an out-of-state acceptance rate of less than 10%. Haskel was asked why she chose this school. “Austin, TX is a fun city and there are a lot of things to do,” Haskell said. “UT Austin is also ranked very high and has great research opportunities.”

Paige Rowan is excited to finish high school and continue her academic journey this upcoming fall at North Carolina State University (NC State). She has an interest in sports that NC State offers and shows interest in several classes that this University has to offer for her major, international business. Rowan feels that almost all of the people that already attend NC State are welcoming and feels she will have no issue fitting in. The price of NC State is also another reason why Rowan is excited about the school. “I am very happy with my final decision on this university, I think all in all it will be a great fit for me,” said Rowan.

Brian Putney is taking a different approach for his year after he graduates from high school. Putney is choosing to take a well-earned gap year and focus more on his sport life rather than his academic life. He is a big-time hockey player and is excited to spend his hockey season at the rink instead of in a metal chair behind a desk. Putney has explained he is also excited to attend college after his gap year, although he isn’t sure where he wants to attend yet. “I’m sure it will all work itself out, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me,” said Putney. 

Mia Conti is committed to Northeastern University for this coming fall with a major in forensic science. Many factors such as the city location, prideful students and much more brought her to apply early decision. “The location is extremely ideal for me because it is so close to home. The city will bring a lot of opportunities in my studies and will create a lot of variety with internship or research opportunities,” said Conti. One factor that was slightly steering her away from the early decision was tuition cost. The starting tuition cost for Northeastern is approximately $81,000, and with early decision, there is not a lot of money given to admitted students.

Philip Brown has decided to take a different route after high school. He has always wanted to be a part of the U.S. military and is doing just that. Next year, Brown will be joining the Marine Corps. “I chose the Marine Corps over all of my other options because you get training that you can’t get anywhere else and I want to fight for my country,” said Brown.

Abby McKenna is committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for this upcoming fall. She will be majoring in allied health sciences. McKenna landed on UConn by full coincidence. She applied because she had heard great things about the school, but didn’t have a great interest at first. As time went on, she began to look deeper into the university and found that it would be perfect for her. “When I started looking further into the school, I fell in love with the campus and the curriculum seemed perfect for me!” McKenna said.