Fireman, rock star, astronaut: it is about time for students to start taking their futures seriously. At GS, time runs like sand in an hourglass and in the blink of an eye, it is time to start applying to colleges. But at what point do students really start to consider the rest of their lives?

Since colleges are in such high demand, it is a great idea to look over requirements and send in any college applications a few months, if not even a year, prior to the enrollment date. Even if students are nearly positive that they want to go to a certain college, it is best to take a visit to that school to make sure that it is what they expected or hoped it would be.

Letters of recommendation are also vital to getting accepted. Students should ask someone who knows their strengths and capabilities best and give them a month’s notice so that they will have time to write the letter.

According to guidance counselor Mario Battaglia, there were around two or three students not accepted to the colleges they applied to. Battaglia also said that most applicants know their strengths and weaknesses, and which colleges are the best choices for them personally.

Although many GS students get into their first choice school, it is still very important to apply to more than one college. “Students who apply to very selective schools do not always get in, but we’ve been good with academies,” Battaglia said. If students can make a list of pros and cons for several schools and weigh their options, it will be a lot easier to find the best place to study.

Another important decision that needs to be made is whether or not one will want to attend school in or out of state.

“I just want to get away from this town,” junior Ashley Davis said. Davis plans to major in Child Care, although she has yet to decide which college to attend.

On the other end of the spectrum, senior Ron Puzak and sophomore Minda Koloshinsky both wish to be accepted at Penn State. Puzak wants to major in Architecture, and Koloshinsky wants to remain close to her friends and family in Pennsylvania. Her major is still undecided.

Whether unsure about classes, majors, or college in general, the futures of GS students are promising.