By Lauren Smith
There are plenty of big decisions high schoolers face. One of the most confusing choices is where to attend college. There are many elements that go into a student’s college selection process, and, for Coronado students, like those all over the US, the big question is whether to stay close to home or venture farther away.
“I chose to go to college at UNLV so I can be close to home and because the scholarships I’ve earned will fully pay for my tuition and fees,” Lea Seibel, senior, said.
The popular saying “the West Coast is the best coast” may be true for the beaches but not always when it comes to education.The cost of living can be quite pricey up the Pacific shoreline, and this applies to college residency. California offers more than 450 higher education institutions. The West Coast is appealing for many because of its practicality. Most schools in that region are easily accessible from the student’s childhood home. It is cheaper to visit during holidays and long weekends and is also more familiar to a Nevada native.
“I hope to go to college in California because I really want to experience new things and I love being near the beach,” Caitlin Lazaro, junior, said.
In sharp contrast, the East Coast can be a new experience for a student looking for something different. This side of the U.S. is home to the eight ivy league schools: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. Anyone who decides to attend school on the East Coast can expect a culture shock. The lifestyle there is very different from Las Vegas. It is important to take into consideration that trips back to fmaily and friends won’t be as frequent for someone attending school more than 1,000 miles from home.
“I chose Georgetown because it is one of the best universities for international relations, and due to its location in Washington DC, would provide me with a plethora of internship opportunities with Congress, the state department, and embassies,” Sarah Baron, senior, said.
It would be much easier to choose a college destination if money wasn’t a major factor. Even so, there are still ways to attend that dream school without breaking the bank.
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a great opportunity for anyone hoping to attend school out of state but still on the West Coast. The states that take part in the program are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Students who plan to attend college in one of these states can receive up a 150% reduction in resident tuition costs outside of their home state. There is still hope for the Eastern-bound. There are a multitude of scholarships available on the web as well as financial aid and grants. Many academic scholarships are valid in all U.S. states, as well as athletic scholarships through the NCSA.
For everyone opting to go in-state, the Millennium Scholarship can greatly ease the costs of college. The Millennium Scholarship will pay up to 12 non-remedial credits per semester. The program will pay $80 per credit at eligible universities, $60 per credit at NSHE state colleges and upper level community college courses, and $40 per credit at NSHE community colleges.
“I am going to attend the University of Nevada, Reno because it is in state so I can receive the Millennium Scholarship and in-state tuition,” Ramsey Pfeffinger, senior, said. “They have a great journalism program and are currently spending almost a billion dollars in upgrades to the campus.”
Even though choosing a college location can be overwhelming, there is no wrong choice. Both regions offer an abundance of possibilities. With more than 1,400 four-year-colleges in the continental United States, there truly is somewhere for everyone.
