By JONATHAN WARREN
Choosing to go to a four-year university can be a difficult process filled with decisions, paperwork and standardized tests. However, students choosing this path feel, now more than ever, that it is one to success, as the number of college applicants has continued to increase. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, people with a bachelor’s degree or higher earn $18,500 more a year on average.
“I have always known my whole life I wanted to go to college. I didn’t want to stop in high school,” senior Stefanie Irizarry said.
In the fall, Irizarry will be attending Berklee College of Music in Boston where she hopes to pursue her singing by majoring in performing arts. Last summer she attended a five-week summer program at Berklee. After the program, she knew Berklee was the right fit for her.
“Berklee is the school of my dreams. It’s extremely well known and when I did the summer program, I knew it was where I wanted to be. The place was like home,” Irizarry said.
Whether or not a school is a good fit academically is not the only factor that affects students’ college decisions. In this current economic slump, finances are playing a bigger role in student choices. According to College Board, 64 percent of college bound seniors strongly agree that they are concerned about the impact rising costs might have on their education.
“If I hadn’t received a scholarship, I wouldn’t be going to Berklee,” Irizarry said.
Irizarry auditioned for her scholarship by singing “Put Your Records On” by Corrine Bailey Rae in front of judges. She received a scholarship for $15,000 a semester.
“I’m very proud of myself for getting the scholarship because I was very scared. A lot of people doubted me which just made me want to prove them wrong,” Irizarry said.
Despite financial complications, the number of applicants to private institutions continues to increase. Princeton, Duke and Brown all saw more than a 10 percent increase in applicants last year alone. For students today, the future value of a college degree outweighs its price.
After college, Irizarry hopes to travel as much as possible, so she can gain world experience before entering her career.
“College is a good place to start to mold yourself before you’re thrown into the real world,” Irizarry said.