*WEB CONTINUATION: This article originally appeared in Volume 106 Issue 1 of our news magazine, Amplifier.

“What are you going to do after high school?” are nine words that high school students hear very often. 

Through the ages of 14 to 18, students go out of their way to find their passions, hobbies, and what their path will lead them to, in an effort to answer this question. Eli Samora, junior, has been looking at colleges since the beginning of his junior year. 

“I have always felt a certain pressure to figure out what I’m doing with my future,” Samora said. 

Some ways that students prepare for college is through doing their own research about schools, visiting various campuses to become informed, and looking at backup options. 

“I’ve toured one college so far, but I’m planning on touring them in the future,” Samora said. “It helps me get a feel of the environment and the size of the campus, location, access to stores, specific stuff like that.”

Though the college process can be overwhelming there are a few steps high schoolers can take to get ahead of college decisions. Looking at different colleges is a great way to see what courses you should take in high school to be prepared. 

West Linn High School (WLHS) offers different ways to get college credit early as well to get ahead. Oregon Institute of Technology, allows high school students to earn college credit as well as take courses at a reduced cost. Students at WLHS can also prepare for college by taking Advanced Placement classes, taught by high school teachers, to show colleges dedication and commitment. 

Touring college campuses and their environment can help finalize decisions for students. Getting familiar with the campus culture can be crucial to picking out a college that better fits the student.

Lastly, the best way to not fall behind is collecting documents and the papers you may need for the application process. Thinking about which of your teachers can give you letters of recommendations, getting comfortable with writing essays for your college applications, and reaching the GPA you are aiming for, makes a big difference when deciding where you will go to college.

Planning for the future, Samora is hoping to study mechanical engineering, and is looking at colleges in the state that provide the program he wants.

More options like trade schools are available after high school. Trade schools are a specialization in hands-on capability and more targeted careers. People may go into trade to be an electrician, welder, cosmetologist, automotive technician, and more in that field. Trade schools prioritize practical skills using real world experiences. They commonly take less time to complete and have a lower cost compared to colleges and universities.

The benefits of trade schools also feature having a student’s high school GPA being less important for admittance, and trade school targeting a more practical approach. Students may want to take this route instead to start their own businesses or otherwise go into one of these trades.

Whether students start now or later, it is best to begin thinking about what career field they want to pursue in the future. Whether that is college, taking a gap year, or going into the work force or trade school. There are many options for colleges, and many programs and scholarships that could help students get where they want to go. High school is only the beginning of finding hobbies, identity, and what students want to do professionally. The college preparation process starts in high school and continues into the future.