College decision nears for Wantagh seniors

Wantagh High School seniors have an important decision to make in the coming months: what to do after graduation.

To help them find the answer, the school hosts a series of college fairs each fall. Representatives of about 50 universities from across the northeast were on hand on Oct. 2, the second of three fairs.

Tables lined three walls of the gymnasium, and students — mostly juniors and seniors — were able to walk around to pick up brochures and talk one on one with recruiters. Gerri Lethbridge, a Wantagh High School guidance counselor, said that each of the three fairs features different schools.

“We have some really competitive schools,” Lethbridge said. “For many students who are not able to visit particular schools, this is particularly valuable.”

She said that students are encouraged to ask about admissions requirements, costs, scholarship opportunities and academic programs, among other topics that can help determine if a college would be the right fit.

Wantagh’s seniors are well on their way toward picking a school. Christine Parola said she has already visited four campuses, which she described as the best way to get to know a school. “I want to be in a place where I’m comfortable,” she said.

Mike Paradiso said he started doing research on colleges last year by visiting websites. He is interested in studying business, and wants to find a school that has a strong program.

Paradiso said he is looking to choose a school with a good academic reputation, an athletic program and a good campus life. “I’m looking for a bigger school,” he said. “I feel it would give me a better atmosphere to meet more people.”

He said the most challenging part of the college decision process is working through the financial aspects.

For Julia Laibach, an aspiring doctor, location is important. She wants to go away to college, but also wants to be close enough where she could come home for a weekend.

Laibach is planning to major in biology, so she is looking for a school that has her program. Any potential college must also have a strong sense of community. “I definitely want a social aspect,” she said. “I want equal social and education.”

Although she has already visited six campuses, Laibach said she is far from reaching a decision on a college, and appreciates that the school puts on these college fairs. Laibach, during her visit to the fair last week, said she wanted to learn more about colleges she hadn’t heard of, and what opportunities those schools offer.

She hopes to arrive at her choice by March.

Parola said she plans to enter college undecided on a major, but is leaning toward political science. She wants to pick a school that has that program, but also one that would give her the opportunity to take courses in other areas.

As she talks to college recruiters, Parola said her conversations focus on academics and student life. One of her goals is to find a school that has small class sizes. “I like more of an intimate setting,” she said.

Ed Augustine, an admissions representative from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, said students visiting his table probably are looking for a career in math or science. He wants them to know that there is a school with strong programs for an affordable price.

“My goal is to get a few kids interested,” he said, “to know they can take this stuff at a SUNY school.”

Lethbridge said that she and her fellow guidance counselors will often direct students towards schools that specialize in their desired area of study. A college fair, she explained, gives them the opportunity for face-to-face interaction and a chance to make a positive impression.

She said she hopes that students will take what they learned at the college fair and continue to do more research, whether online or through a campus visit.

As for the college representatives on hand, Lethbridge said it is important that they leave with a positive impression. That’s why the school treats them to pizza and snacks. “They are so enthusiastic to be here,” she said. “They know Wantagh as one of the more hospitable schools.”