With graduation creeping closer and closer for both juniors and seniors, exploring future college options is becoming a popular activity. On September 26th, students took a trip to NIACC, the local North Iowa Area Community College to dive in on the subject.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Raina Hardy, a junior at MCHS. Hardy is just beginning to explore a career after high school. Right now, one of her favorite classes is chemistry. She’s considering pursuing a degree to take her into the health field.
“It’s fun to learn how elements are made and molecules stick together,” said Hardy, “I like helping other people. My aunt is a doctor and my other aunt is an anesthesiologist.”
College fairs give students like Hardy a first look at which colleges are the best fit.
“It is a great opportunity for students to learn about colleges they may never have thought about before,” said Karla Wymore, an MCHS student counselor.
In all, 49 colleges from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin showcased their programs.
“They asked us what our questions were and tried their best to answer everything,” said Raina Hardy, a junior at MCHS.
For the trip being optional, organizers say the turnout was very large. Around 400 students attended from multiple schools.
In an effort to cut down on paper, students created barcodes to receive emails and pamphlets from colleges. There were some pamphlets available for any students to take home.
According to Wymore, one way students can best prepare is to do some work ahead of time.
“Research careers/colleges they are interested in learning more about ahead,” said Wymore. “It would allow them to make sure they had a chance to visit with those schools first.”
Last year, 20% of MCHS graduates were set to attend a 4-year college, while 48% planned to attend a 2-year college. The rest went to a trade school or straight into the workforce.
