After countless college tours, applications and acceptance letters, the senior class is finally deciding the place they will call home for the next four years.  

For many, choosing a college is simple. Those students have known for years exactly where they want to end up, and the second they read “Congratulations, you are in,” they excitedly pay the commitment deposit and begin planning their dorm.

Others, however, take months to choose their college. They methodically craft pro and con lists, speak to college students and visit their top schools again.

After all, college is more than just a campus. It is the place where students will meet their future bridesmaids and groomsmen. They will meet hallmates who become like family and professors who become their biggest cheerleaders. It is the city where they will go on walks, go out for dinners and show their families around. It may even be the place where they launch their careers after college. 

Accordingly, students weigh many factors when choosing a school. Some students are drawn to a college with a top-10 football team and baseball team, while others prefer an environment filled with an emphasis on the arts or a focus on social impact. 

Naturally, cost is a very important factor as many students choose Georgia schools for the prospect of the Hope or Zell Scholarships. Other students are intent on venturing into new territory, hoping to build futures up north or out west.

By envisioning where they can make lifelong friends, thrive academically, and be best equipped for future success, students can make a more well-informed college decision. Regardless if students have pondered these factors for years or are just now beginning to, they will undoubtedly choose the place where they are meant to be.

Choosing a school might be stressful now, but at the end of the day, every single student will find their home.