Despite the rush of applying to colleges coming to an end, whispers of where to apply and what decisions were received can still be heard throughout the hallways. As students wrap up their decisions on college, the pressure only increases as they narrow down their future plans. A rush of admissions being sent out recently has only impacted the amount of students going to specific colleges and narrowed down the college choices for most students. 

The top choices for in-state colleges were Texas A&M and University of Texas Austin, as both are renowned for their national and state rankings and academic opportunities for students. According to UT News, the news source for the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Austin ranks number ten in the top public universities in Texas. For senior Klaudia Mistzal, the research and academic opportunities are what makes UT Austin the best educational experience for her. 

“I am majoring in psychology and UT has an amazing psychology program,” Mistzal said. “There are tons of research opportunities at UT, which is something I’m extremely interested in. Something very unique about UT is the Plan II Honors Program, which I plan on pursuing.” 

For Misztal, interdisciplinary studies and research is crucial to her education. The variety of clubs and organizations also allow students like Misztal to explore their interests and develop their educational pathway. According to ThoughtCo, an educational blog, recreative interests are a big factor in choosing a college, as it is a big part of college life.

“I look for a college with many research opportunities, student organizations, and interdisciplinary opportunities,” Misztal said. “I think UT meets those requirements perfectly, due to the value they place on interdisciplinary studies and research and tons of clubs and organizations they offer. One of the organizations I’m excited to join is UT’s Women in Psychology. UT has a great pre-med program/pathway for psychology BS majors.”

On the other hand, Texas A&M is a college admired for its diversity and good programs as well. according to Forbes List, Texas A&M ranks 17th in the top Public Colleges in the nation. Additionally, it ranks 14th in US Research Universities, according to the Research @Texas A&M.  Senior Carlton Marcom, who will be involved in A&M’s biomedical science program, appreciates the college for its academic opportunities and diversity. 

“There are so many opportunities here, and they have a great biomedical sciences school and program,” Marcom said. “The sports teams are incredible and the spirit of Aggieland is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been to. It feels like my home away from home, and there are so many people here, and I love the diversity and community of College Station.”

While the general preference for college location is in-state, due to tuition costs, students who are really set on out of state colleges prefer out of state. Receiving benefits, such as scholarships, from out of state colleges is also a big push factor for students to go to out of state colleges. According to WithFrank, a blog that focuses specifically on the college application process, some colleges, such as the University of California, have cheaper out of state tuition than in-state tuition. However, applying to in-state tuition for out of state colleges is also an option, which senior Madelyn Roberts, who will be attending Colorado State University and majoring in Apparel Merchandising and Design, is going with. 

“Personally, I think that it’s only worth going out of state if you’ve been set on going to a specific out of state college for a long time or if you’ve been awarded a substantial amount of scholarship money, because otherwise, it’s not worth spending that much money or going into that much debt,” Roberts said. “I personally am only going to be paying out of state tuition for only one year because my parents are moving to Colorado this summer, so I will be able to establish in-state residency and get in-state tuition for the last three years. If I didn’t have this option, I honestly wouldn’t even think about going to a school that I couldn’t get in-state tuition for.”

For Roberts, she said a good program for her interests is crucial to an ideal college. According to ThoughtCo, an educational blog, educational and recreational opportunities are a good factor for students to look for in colleges, and that’s what students like Roberts look for in college. However, the general feel of the campus also seems to be a deciding factor. 

“I really wanted somewhere that was picturesque, [some place] that fits with my vintage style,” Roberts said. “I wanted somewhere where I could walk down to mainstreet and have a bunch at a cafe. Or go shopping. I’ll be a fashion major, and I have my own fashion Instagram [account] and I could just see myself pursuing these interests in Fort Collins.”

In-state or out of state, college admissions are coming in at full speed, and last minute decisions are still being made. While a lot of colleges have reached out, some are still yet to send out anything. Pursuing individual passions is something many students look forward to in college, and getting that overall experience as well.