Gonk Kids Prepare for College

Since January, Laura Heinzinger's office at has been especially hopping. It is every year.

As the college and career coordinator, Heinzinger is the go-to person for those seniors pursuing education, and careers, beyond high school. That means virtually everyone.

At the end of April, most students, she said, "are starting to hear back from schools at this point. The only students who are still doign applications are those who are thinking of two-year programs, techinical programs or schools that have rolling admission. Algonquin students are very deadline oriented, so most of them do early admission."

In an A-Z of schools across the country, Algonquin students have plans (and have been accepted) to attend a variety of colleges: Anna Maria; Arizona State; Bridgewater University; Brown University; Duke; Keene State; UMass Amherst; University of Miami; Miami University, Oxford; Providence College; Roger William; and Rutgers ... to name but a few.

Umass Amhert, UConn and UNH are big ones, said Heinzinger. "We do have a decent amount of kids who go out of state," she said.

The desire to know early, she added, prompts many to fill out "early action" applications.

Caitlin Pardee, who attended UNH, is now a graduate student interning in Heinzinger's office. Pardee graduated high school in 2005, and said she "didn't think about half of the things that kids think about now. I didn't think about the financial stuff at all. I think they are getting more savvy.

"It's really easy to apply for colleges now because you don't have to fill out that paper application," she continued. "You fill out one and you can send it to ten schools. You upload it to the system. It's called the 'common application.'"

Heinzinger said Algonquin ranks in the 90 percentile of students who continue on to college after high school.

"We're very college oriented," she said. "I think it's partially because we provide a rigorous cirrculum to take honors level and AP level along with the college prep cirriculum."

Ninety-one percent of the seniors have applied to schools this year.

"Toward the end of the year we collect data about where they are going and what the major is," said Heinzinger. "That 91 percent will eventually go to 99 percent. There are some who enter the workforce or the military, but it is not a high number." 

Of course the choices are not only based on interest, but finances have become more and more important. A lot of students, said Heinzinger, will get into two schools, but side with the one who "gave them a better package."

The guidance office holds a number of financial aid workshops for the community. Most, said Heinzinger, need financial help.

For instance, Connecticut College is presently $53,000 a year (including room and  board) and UMass Amherst costs $23,000. 

"Being realistic about your post graduate education is important," said Heinzinger, "and taking a good look at the finaniaal aid package. If your top school doesn’t give you enough, maybe reassess where you’re going and choose a school where you’ll come out with less debt. That can be hard sometimes for kids, when their second choice gives them a better package."

By the year's end, the school will have a clearer idea of what majors the students will focus on, as data is collected from the guidance office (we'll update on Northborough Patch).

Nursing is a "very popular major," albeit a competitive field. Business and economics, too, are a common choice, as is psychology. For many who are undecided, Heinzinger said students choose schools with a strong liberal arts concentration. 

Now is the time where students are hearing back and making decisions.

With graduation looming on June 3, there's another class ready to step out into the "real world." Or at least the next rung to get them there.

"Attending college is what attending high school was 40 years ago," said Heinzinger. "My mother left high school and took an administrative job. Now, most administrative jobs require a Bachelor's degree. To be a teacher, most schools want you to have a Master's, or some sort of post graduate degree."

Is your child headed off to college? Are you a senior heading off to college? Where did you decide to go? Why did you choose the school? What is your major? We'd love to hear about the process, and your decision, in the comments section. 

Alqonguin is also hosting a panel discussion focused on the college application process on May 24 at 7:30 a.m. in the auditorium.