In a society fixated on higher education, it is no surprise that a countless number of seniors seek college admission following the discontinuation of their high school career.  The question becomes not if someone is planning to attend college, but where they intend to enroll. Due to factors such as price, location, kinship, and overall preparedness, many students decide to remain in-state for college, whereas others aspire to attend out-of-state universities.  Among the students that seek the latter are seniors Laura Arnold, Rahmlee Reynolds, Ryan Thompson, and Yuan Fei Zhang.

“I’ve got to be honest, they are not here,” said Reynolds of his reasoning behind seeking admission out of state. “It is not that they are out-of-state, it is that they tend to be better.”

Reynolds intends to apply to many prestigious institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Vanderbilt, University of Chicago, Yale, Princeton, Berkley, and University of Washington, Seattle.  The aforementioned universities are merely a sampling of Reynolds’ list of probable schools as he plans to apply to over 16 universities. Every institution he is applying to offers a very strong and extremely well endowed science program which would bolster his studies in informational sciences. Reynolds’s ideal university would be Harvard, but he has realistically set his sights on University of California, Berkley.

Similar to Reynolds, Zhang wishes to be admitted into Ivy League universities.  However, Zhang’s list is much more focused as he claims Harvard and Princeton to be his most desirable options. Zhang cites the ability to receive a better education and meet more people, better research facilities, and more prestige as his reasoning behind pursuing higher education out-of-state. Zhang is not anxious about the transition as he has relocated numerous times throughout his life.

“I will miss them, but I am used to it,” said Zhang of leaving loved ones behind when he leaves the state to receive post-secondary education.

Zhang currently intends to obtain a degree in the realm of chemistry and feels confident that entrance into any of the out of state colleges he is applying to will greatly enrich his studies.

Thompson shares the sentiments of Reynolds and Zhang in regards to higher education.  He also feels that admittance into an out of state university will provide him with the best possible education.  However, he is quite uncertain where he wants to attend.  He hopes to focus his studies in either the mathematics, science, or foreign language disciplines and knows that he will be applying to Ivy League institutions as well as Georgia Tech.

Arnold is unlike Reynolds, Zhang, and Thompson in her out-of-state university selections, but is much more certain about where she wishes to attend due to her passion for the state of Texas.

Arnold’s love for the state stems from the fact that she originated from Texas and that a majority of her family still lives in the area. She hopes to pursue a degree pertaining to the medical field at Texas A&M. Arnold’s parents attended the university and she is attracted to the multiple ministry opportunities and traditions the school offers.  Arnold is also drawn to the campus of the school as it boasts over 25,000 trees. Arnold is enthralled by the idea of attending the university as she feels it is where she is meant to be.

“There is just something special about being an Aggie,” said Arnold, “when I visited there I was questionable about where I wanted to go and almost immediately fell in love with it as soon as I went.”