It’s almost around that time when U. City seniors start throwing out the black and gold and start repping their new college apparel. As seniors embark on the journey of spending another four to six years in school, their options go far beyond the assigned district that students in St. Louis abide by. These options include in-state schools or out-of-state schools, and some seniors have even set their sights on the military.

While deciding between these options can be time consuming and tedious, many U. City seniors have weighed and rationalized the effects of their decisions. The students who are choosing out-of-state colleges are not only ready to explore the world that they have yet to see, but want to show the world outside of Missouri what they have to offer.

As a black student tired of being in the same urban city of Saint Louis, “it only makes sense to go to an out-of-state school because there are no opportunities in the other predominantly rural cities in Missouri. So we might as well start making connections somewhere else,” said senior Maliaka Hill.

Students of color can’t seem to escape the constant competition with the “all white” areas in Missouri. It seems as if getting a job is twice as hard as a minority.

Not only do certain students, mainly students of color, feel as if their opportunities are limited in Missouri, but they’re limited to the multiplicity of people.

Senior Kaelin Barnes is thinking of going to school out-of-state; one of the reasons is to experience “different cultures, personalities and fashions” that aren’t getting monotonous like those within the areas they live.”

As the out-of-state option of college brings newer experiences and outlooks on life, it can also bring a lot of homesickness as well. Homesickness seems to be the most popular answer as to why more students aren’t going away for college and plan to stay in-state.

“I don’t want to be away from my mom,” said senior Katrina Allen. “I might need to depend on her more than I think.”

Staying close to home, in state, is also a tactic for some seniors to escape from the cycle of undergraduate debt that continues to haunt many people who have been out of college for years.

“I’m starting off at an in-state school, because in-state tuition is cheaper than it would be if I went out of state, and everyone I know who went away for college are still paying for it now,” said senior Teneishia Gentry.

When discussing costs as a huge factor in college decision making, it makes some seniors choose another path altogether, such as enlisting in the military.

Other than depending on financial aid and filling out scholarships, which is even more tedious than deciding where to attend college, the military seems to replace the debt that comes along with attending college.

“I’ve been in JROTC all four years of high school, and the fact that I can apply what I’ve learned in the military and still attend college with 100 percent tuition paid for makes it even better,” said senior Simone Clerk, who is currently in National Guard and will do basic training in June.

Whether it’s taking the ACT over and over to get into the desired school, or even taking the ASVAB in order to enlist in the U.S military, senior year may not be all fun and games, like many people think.
They may rep class of 2014 for now, but they’re really looking forward to 2018.