As the OHS 2023-2024 seniors enter their final quarter of the school year many of them are committing to the college they will be attending for the next four years. Some seniors have committed to going to college in Minnesota or surrounding states, and some have decided to join the workforce. Some have even decided to commit to colleges outside of Minnesota, specifically on the East Coast.
Choosing where to go and even what to do after graduation is a huge step for a high school student to take. Whether someone will go to college, trade, or choose to take a gap year; it is all a big decision to make.
In the state of Minnesota, it is not uncommon for kids to study at an in-state school and it is also not uncommon for kids to attend a postsecondary institution after their four years in high school. According to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 70 percent of high school students attend a postsecondary institution after getting their high school diploma. Out of those 70 percent, only 28 percent of students attend a college out-of-state; these colleges are typically in surrounding states such as Wisconsin, Iowa, and North or South Dakota.
I have always wanted to be in New York and NYU has always been my dream school since I visited New York for the first time in the sixth grade.”
— Ella Heyne
OHS senior Ella Heyne will be attending New York University in New York City, New York, this upcoming fall. NYU is a very selective school, only accepting eight percent of people. Heyne is currently ranked number one in the OHS 2024 senior class. NYU has been Heyne’s dream school since she visited New York for the first time.
Heyne is extremely overjoyed that she will be attending NYU. Even though NYU is thousands of miles away from Minnesota, Heyne is not nervous to go. She said, “I have always wanted to be in New York and NYU has always been my dream school since I visited New York for the first time in the sixth grade.”
Heyne’s sister, Claire Heyne, currently attends Duke University in Durham, North Carolina as a sophomore. Heyne said, “My sister goes to school in North Carolina so she is also really far away and she has never struggled with feeling homesick, and I don’t think I will either.” This means that her family is already used to having a family member go far away for school.
I choose MIT because of their engineering program, also because of their overall financial package. MIT was able to help me and my family, which was a big thing for me. I really appreciate that they are able to really value my future and education.”
— Jose Rosas
OHS senior Jose Rosas will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fall. MIT is also extremely selective, they only accept four point five percent of people. MIT was a clear choice for Rosas since he plans to major in biomedical engineering and MIT has one of the best programs for that career path.
Rosas was in between four amazing schools Baylor University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame and Massachusetts Institute of Technology before he officially committed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Many factors influenced Rosas to commit to MIT. He said, “I choose MIT because of their engineering program, also because of their overall financial package. MIT was able to help me and my family, which was a big thing for me. I really appreciate that they are able to really value my future and education.”
Deciding to attend MIT is an extremely difficult decision to make with it being as far and prestigious as it is. Rosas said, “Attending an out-of-state college is a way for me to be able to get out and to learn about the world and the country as a whole, it’s a way for me to expand my knowledge and how I can grow as a person; leaving the midwest and just learning about different parts of the country to see how they are doing. It also gives me the opportunity to pick up different things I never would have living anywhere else.”
I picked Purdue because of the atmosphere of the campus when I got there, it’s big yet it can feel small too. Everyone on campus was excited to be there and everyone had good things to say about it.”
— Kali Clauson
OHS senior Kali Clauson will be attending Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this upcoming fall. Clauson is extremely excited yet nervous about starting this thrilling chapter of her life.
Clauson chose Purdue University Fort Wayne because of how welcoming the atmosphere is there. Also, her aunt lives in Indiana so even though she’ll be far from home she will have family nearby. She said, “I picked Purdue because of the atmosphere of the campus when I got there, it’s big yet it can feel small too. Everyone on campus was excited to be there and everyone had good things to say about it. You can just feel the culture right when you walk in the doors and I feel like I did not feel that at many colleges, so that is why I picked Purdue.” Clauson is extremely excited right now but as it gets closer to fall she will start feeling more nervous about actually moving away.
After graduating high school, students get thrown into the real world. Whether students are ready to attend a university, or institution, go into trades, or even take a gap year it is important to know that it is their path and no one else’s. As students graduate it is even more important to acknowledge that—one person’s path is not everyone’s path, one person’s plan may not be everyone’s plan—and that is okay.
Wherever the path leads for the seniors of Owatonna High School class of 2024, best of wishes with all your future endeavors. Commencement for the Class of 2024 will be on Friday, June 7, 2024.
