While seniors are applying to colleges, they are also deciding whether to stay in Maryland or leave.
Staying in-state for college has many benefits, such as proximity to home and in-state tuition. Public universities have lower tuition for residents of their state, however, a lot of students also want to explore different areas than the ones they grew up in.
“I would prefer to go out-of-state because the schools that are in-state aren’t appealing to me, and are a little too close to home for my liking,” senior Erin Kelly said.
Students who are looking to stay in-state often apply to schools such as the University of Maryland – College Park, University of Maryland – Baltimore County, Towson University, and Salisbury University.
“I’d like to stay in-state, but that’s mostly just because of my parents, my parents don’t want me to go far,” senior Maha Ezzaki said. “UMD [is my top] because it’s not too far from here. It’s a good school. And my sister goes there, and she really likes it.”
There are several other factors that students take into account when deciding where they will apply. For Ezzaki and Kelly, the school’s community and academics are very important.
“I’m looking for a large school with a good education and a good student life. I’m also looking for a school somewhere warmer with good school spirit,” Kelly said.
The size of the school is a notable factor for many seniors. Some want big schools; others prefer smaller ones. Kelly wants to go to a large university.
“Like Clemson, UMD, Virginia Tech, [University of] South Carolina, University of Florida. A few more too,” Kelly said.
For seniors, the unknown about where they will be come the end of the school year can be stressful.
“It’s crazy to think about being somewhere completely new,” Kelly said. “But I’m excited, yeah. I just don’t know where I’ll be.”
