WGHS Students Find College Tours a Help with Future Decisions

For many students here at WGHS, thinking about life after high school can be confusing or stressful. To help with this, students recently went on college tours around Georgia to learn more about different schools and their options.
by Mariana Castaneda

Students visited colleges like UGA, Georgia Tech, SCAD, Georgia State, Georgia Gwinnett, the University of North Georgia, Georgia College, and Kennesaw State University. They are also planning to visit the University of West Georgia soon. On each tour, students usually meet with an admissions counselor, learn about majors and financial aid, and get a full campus tour from a current college student. Dr. Holder explained that the goal of these trips is to help students understand what college is really like: “It’s meant to give students an overview of what campus would be like and how they can apply.”

Some students said the tours helped them feel more sure about their future. Valeria Paiva Roa, a junior here at WGHS, plans to go into nursing. Valeria said the experience helped confirm her career choice. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, but touring GCSU made me feel way more sure about it. It helped me actually picture myself there doing nursing,” she explained. She also liked that the campus wasn’t too big and that classes are smaller, which she thinks is better for nursing. Valeria said she also thought it was really cool that students can start getting hands-on experience early in college and was surprised at how competitive the nursing program is.

Leo Lopez, a senior this year, said the tours helped him better understand what his future career could look like. “Honestly, touring the colleges has given me a broad understanding of what I’m actually going to do when I work there and the different paths that will come from that career.” While he visited several schools, one stood out. “Kennesaw caught my eye… because it has the degree that I want.” Leo also noticed how different college life is compared to high school. He said there is a lot more freedom. “There’s a lot of free range at all these colleges. It’s not set in stone like it is in high school. I could do whatever I want, basically.”

Overall, the college tours helped WGHS students learn more about their future. It gave them a better idea of what college is like and helped them feel more prepared for what comes next.