Educators say getting an education is an essential part of getting a job anymore, but there are so many options to choose from when looking at colleges.
It's a big decision for some and many types of questions go into it before narrowing down picks. What's the cost? Where's it at?, and what kind of degree can I get there? One of the biggest questions is simply where to start the search.
It's a big accomplishment...parading down the aisle in the cap and gown, taking hundreds of pictures with your friends, and graduating from high school, but what's next?
For more than 50 percent of high school grads, it's college, and getting a diploma, but for many grads, they have one main question….how do I start the search and pick the right school?
For Mason City Senior, Ceecily McWilliams, it's a family decision.
McWilliams said, "well it started with me and my mom looking at schools and then I went to my counselor and she kind of broke it down, in what I needed to do."
School Counselor Karla Wymore says the first step is to start early with a plan and compare career goals with your own set of skills.
Then she says to pick a wide range of colleges and visit each campus.
Wymore said, "the books, the internet, and what you see from athletic teams isn't always reality to what it's like in the day to day campus life and so I think it's really key to get on campus and see if they envision themselves there, I urge them to visit a comm. college, visit private, vs. visit state, they all are different."
Since they all are unique in their own ways, she's helping Ceecily narrow down choices.
Ceecily said, "I was looking at class size, which was a big thing, then cost for the school and location was kind of the last thing I looked at."
Karla said one of the biggest things students look at is the class size, but knowing what one to choose really comes down to each individual student.
Wymore said, "I think it's different for every kid..some students want to get lost in the crowd, they want to be a number because they feel like they would do better if someone wasn't always honed in on what they're doing and others don't want the big feel."
Most private colleges say their size is their biggest seller.
Director of Admissions, Carl Childs said, "the biggest difference is you really don't get lost in the numbers. you can walk into a class room and your professor knows exactly who you are when you're missing from class room."
Ceecily says she's leaning towards a private school but like many others students, price is playing a major role in her decision.
Counselors said that a college decision really shouldn't be about how much you write out a check for, because nowadays there are so many ways to help a student pay for school, but they said the price tag still seems to be a popular issue."
Tuition at North Iowa Area Community College for a year is around $4,000 a year and the Admissions Director there said that's one of the reasons almost half of Mason City college bound grads attend NIACC.
Director of Admissions at NIACC Rachel McGuire said, "they can save a lot of money starting off whether they're goal is to enter the job market transfer to a four year; they can save a lot of money by getting classes they need."
Private schools are a little more pricey. Attending Waldorf is around $18,000. but leaders there say it's an investment in your future.
Childs said, "It's sort of like owning a vehicle, you pay more for some of the luxuries you get, you're paying for classroom setting, attention that you're getting..safe environment your placed in."
Some students want to cross boarders and move away from home for school, Riverland Community College in Minnesota has more than 50 students from Iowa, but while their tuition stays the same, other out of sate schools charge double."
Ceecily has more information now, but still has concerns about picking the right school.
McWilliams said, "biggest one is getting there and deciding this isn't where I want to be, this isn't what I want to major in, like I'm more worried about getting half way through school and deciding I don't want to do this anymore and have to start over."
Counselor Karla Wymore said it's pretty normal to have those thoughts, and the bottom line is just getting the education to help keep this next generation be competitive in today's job market.
Wymore said, "there's not a right or wrong way, it's that Bachelors degree you come out with in the end that is the key it's not necessarily what road did you take to get there."
College is not just for the high school graduates or young adults. NIACC leaders in particular say their college is a life long learning institute.
So, they have special courses catered to those people who are looking at changing careers or who just want to take a class. All school leaders agree that education is playing an even bigger role in today's society as technology continues to grow.
School leaders say the best time for a high school student to start applying to colleges is in their Junior year.
