Sydney Scott is a third-year undergraduate at Southeastern Louisiana University. She shares practical advice, inspiration, and tips for high school and college students using her unique brand of candor and humor. This is the third and final installment in our fall/winter series of college myth-busting posts.
Have you ever googled “ACT test days?” I have. Unless you know exactly where to click on the official ACT website, you’ll see way more deadlines than you’ll ever need to know about. One time, I wrote down test dates for a social media update, just to realize that the test dates listed were for 2009. As in TEN years ago! Needless to say, this is just one example of the information overload that comes with college & career planning.
Personally, I’d rather eat a shoe than sit down and weigh the pros and cons of major decisions. There’s just too much information to sift through, and it seems like everyone always has a different take on whatever question is at hand. Call it “information overload,” or “opinion overload.” Undoubtedly, one of the worst parts of decision making is the stress of worrying about which decision is the best one. What if I don’t make the right decision? What’s my best option? And why doesn’t anyone have a crystal ball so it can just tell me what the “right” choice is?
Decision making, especially when it comes to college, can be stressful. So, get in line, ask your question, and I’m going to tell you what you should do!
Kidding! That’s a different blog. :-)
I’m here to tell you that there is no “best” choice. There are so many variables when planning for your future. Figuring it all out can be really difficult and discouraging, especially when there’s so much information out there and none of it is perfect. Welcome to the fun world of having to make decisions based on imperfect information.
For our third and final installment of the myth-busting series, I sat down once more with our knowledgeable College & Career Coaches. I asked them about those big and possibly very scary decisions that you may need to make soon. We discuss going to school out-of-state, taking a gap year, and finding employment while you’re still in school.
Ms. Darelle, Ms. Brandyn, and Ms. Jeri are veteran College & Career Coaches, and they have heard all of these questions, and then some. If they don’t know the answers, I’m pretty sure that no one will!
Image by obpia30 from Pixabay.
Here’s one I love talking about, because I applied early and am a huge proponent of it: “What’s the point of early applications? Why should I do it? Do you know of any specific advantages or disadvantages?”
Coach Brandyn: In general, the earlier you get your application in the better your chances of acceptance. Also, you may also be eligible to earn scholarship money within a certain timeframe. If your college application is turned in AFTER the scholarship deadline, you could be missing out on scholarship money you earned. It's okay if your ACT score improves after your application has been turned in. Your score will be updated as it improves, and it will not count against you if your composite or subscores decrease.
Sydney: Definitely! I always suggest students go for early application, since it’s such a great way to potentially collect some scholarship money from really only doing the work of filling the application out. Never turn down free money! Plus, applying earlier means that you will get notified of acceptance earlier.
Image by Artsy Solomon from Pixabay.
I get this question a lot from a lot of high school seniors: “What do you think about gap years?”
Coach Darelle: If a student comes to me with the mindset of working for a period of time, and then starting school, I always start with the tough questions, like, “Why do you feel this is something you need to do?” Or, “Are there other alternatives we could explore?” I do this because gap years can present obstacles down the road that none of us can predict. My job as a college & career coach is to help students explore all of the options. Many times, once I present the student with all of their options for scholarship availability, financing, and the alternative choice of building a schedule based on their needs, they realize that a gap year isn’t the only pathway forward. In rare instances, a gap year is necessary. I also share my contact information in case they need help later on when they decide it’s time to start their post-secondary journey. I always recommend applying to a program anyway, just in case a student changes their mind. That way, they’ll already have an application completed to a school they could attend.
Sydney: Yes! I see students taking gap years when they think they can’t pay for college, or they feel like they can’t handle a full-time 15+ hour course load. What is often overlooked is the real possibility of missing out on a lot of opportunities. So many scholarships and methods of financial aid require students to apply as graduating high school students. (I have personally received scholarships from programs that implement this.) Taking a gap year can mean closing the door to those opportunities.
Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay.
Hopping topics to something I’ve dealt with more in college than I did in high school: “If I don’t have to, should I try to get a job in college?”
Coach Brandyn: There are certainly benefits to working while in college. If you qualify for Federal Work Study, it's a great opportunity to meet people at your college and make connections. Plus, your supervisors will often allow you to do your homework while you are on the job, making this a really convenient option. Another alternative is to find employment in the career field you wish to pursue, even if the job is somewhat low-skilled. This may give you the opportunity to make professional connections, gain knowledge relevant to your future career, help confirm you are getting your education in a career you enjoy, etc.
Sydney: I agree! College is such a good time to start working in the field you plan to be in after you graduate, even if it’s a lower-level job as a receptionist or assistant. Working in that environment will really give you a preview of the work atmosphere you can expect in your chosen field of study. Finding a job that is applicable to your major is especially helpful because it can help you solidify your choice to stay in that major. You’ll know quickly if your chosen career path is a fit or not. Plus, employers are always looking for grads with experience, so gaining some hours on the clock will help you when you are looking for a job after college.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay.
Fun fact —UT Austin was my dream school. It’s where I’ve decided I’m going for grad school. I ended up not attending for my undergraduate education because the in-state tuition in Louisiana, combined with TOPS, was just too good of a deal to pass up. I often get into debates with friends about going out-of-state for college. I usually argue against it, unless they have a scholarship of some sort. So I’ll let you settle it— “Is going out of state for school really worth it if I don’t have a full ride?”
Coach Jeri: This is always a tough question because every student’s situation is different. I would advise students to really evaluate why they want to go to an out-of-state school. Did their family members go to this school, or are they wanting to move out of Louisiana? If they have more scholarship opportunities going to an in-state school, I always suggest heavily considering that option. Remember -- if you qualify for a Louisiana TOPS scholarship, that money will not go with you to an out-of-state school. When you cross the state line, you also have to start looking at out-of-state tuition costs. Many times, these fees are equal to or even more than that school’s tuition. Essentially, you could be paying twice as much for college just to be in a different state.
Are you just wanting to move away from Louisiana? I recommend thinking about your options from a financial standpoint: stay for a few more years in Louisiana, obtain your degree, and then move away if you still feel like it… but without the amount of student debt you may accumulate while attending an out-of-state school. If you have the travel bug, consider going to a school in a different part of the state to experience a new town.
Sydney: I agree with you 100%! Louisiana offers so many opportunities for obtaining scholarships that are uniquely available to in-state students. As someone who wants to move out of state, I understand how enticing it seems to attend a university in a different state. What I always tell myself, though is that it’s just four years, and I’d rather go to an in-state school and leave debt-free than go out of the state and leave college with $100,000+ worth of student loan debt. From one student to another, I say go where you can get the best deal on tuition and financial aid.
To wrap up: Making big decisions about the future can be stressful! Hopefully, this put some of your college-related Q’s to rest! If you still have some questions, check out Part I of our blog here, and Part II (where we discuss paying for college) here!
Want more? Check us out on Instagram @careercompassla to see what we’re up to. Download our app (more info below) to enter our student giveaway (and follow us on IG to get additional entries!). We’re choosing a winner every month!
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Cover image by Career Compass of Louisiana.