As the 2023-2024 school year is wrapping up, and the seniors only have a few weeks left, the junior class of 2025 will step into their shoes in a little over a year to decide their future plans. 

The spring and summer going into a student’s senior year is a time when most begin to discover the schools, majors, and locations that they would be interested in after high school. There are many factors that go into finding the perfect fit for each student, but the best way for rising seniors to familiarize themselves with a college or university is to take tours of the campuses. 

NASH junior Ben Wilcox has taken visits to a few local schools, such as Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst, and Seton Hill.

“I like that they aren’t too far away but not close to home either,” Wilcox said. “I’m interested in college baseball and these are great programs for that. They offer a ton of majors and ones I am interested in, as well.” 

Kendall Graham, a junior, is also interested in schools that are close enough to drive to but not especially far from home.

“A college with a well-developed ‘college town’ is a huge deciding factor for me because I enjoy being social and having places to go with friends.”

Kendall is planning to tour Pitt, WVU, and Drexel over the summer. 

NASH junior Addie Graves is looking to expand a bit further from her hometown. One of her prospective school is the University of Kentucky, which she has visited.

“The school offers a lot of studies I am interested in,” Graves said, “but kinesiology is my main interest, along with physician assistant school. Kentucky has one of the top ranked PA schools in the country.” 

Isabella Williamson, a junior, has her sights set on Penn State.

“There is always something to do up there,” Williamson said. “It also has a homey feel.” 

A hot spot for rising seniors this year is Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio. Juniors Sam Coffman, Eliana Jones, and Hope Bolibruck have taken tours of the campus, and they’ve fallen in love with what the school has to offer. 

Coffman said he is a fan of “the modern community and the sports culture surrounding the campus.” His desire is to major in Music Education. 

Jones has similar feelings towards the university, emphasizing the school’s various clubs and activities which will give her “opportunities to meet new people and experience something new for once.” 

Bolibruck is interested in working with wildlife and the environment, and Ohio University offers multiple programs that can help guide her to a career post college. 

As next August approaches, the class of 2025 will continue the searches for the best fit following high school. 

“This is such an exciting time for juniors as we prepare for the real world,” Jones said.