Opinion by: Katelyn Ramsey

Here comes that time of year when all the seniors begin applying to colleges.  We all do it.  We apply to several colleges, knowing that we’ll automatically be accepted based on our GPA and ACT score.

I speak from experience when I say that the deadlines for these applications cause stress.  My mom has been grinding me for months trying to get me to look at scholarships I’m eligible for and I’ve been putting it off for as long as I could.

September flew by and when the last day of October rolled around, I realized that some of the colleges I wanted to apply to had a deadline of November 1^st.  So, frantically, I began applying to several schools, spending money I didn’t have.  Applying to multiple colleges keeps my options open, right? 

While many kids my age have yet to decide what career path they want to pursue, I’ve been researching which colleges have my program of study, either physical therapy or athletic training.  I began thinking of which schools I would actually like going to.  For about a year, my top choice in schools was Missouri State University in Springfield, but after visiting the University of Central Missouri, I’ve changed my mind.  I’m one of the lucky ones to say that I’ve known what I wanted to do in college since my freshman year.

Along with those stressful college applications come taxing scholarship applications.  Once you get accepted to the college of your choice, you begin applying for the scholarship that can either make or break your college dreams. 

My mom keeps telling me to apply for the smaller scholarships.  They may not amount to much, but if you get enough of them, they can add up to just as much as some of the bigger scholarships.  The bright side to applying for the smaller scholarships is the fact that not as many people apply for them so you have a better chance of getting them, and they give out more of the lower cash amounts. 

When you finally chose the college you want to go to, which I haven’t, you then have to begin thinking about classes and roommates and meal plans.