“What’s your plan after high school?” A question that every junior and senior is asked dozens of times by family members, neighbors, or anybody passing by in conversation. Many students plan and think thoroughly about what they want to do, but some wait and figure it out as life goes on. 

College is often the answer for many. College can offer many chances to create a career after school, and colleges offer many programs and options to choose from. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “62.8 percent of 2024 high school graduates ages 16 to 24 were enrolled in colleges or universities,” and “Among 20- to 29-year-olds who received a bachelor’s degree in 2024, 69.6 percent were employed.”

Many students want a taste of freedom before school starts again, so some students consider taking a break between high school and college. 

“I plan on taking a gap year,” junior Grayson Goodwin said. “I want to enjoy myself and go to Alaska and California.”  

Gap years provide students with an opportunity to explore the world or begin saving for college. Students consider this option because it can offer them a piece of the real world before the school routine locks them up for another four years. Although some schools consider taking a gap year, many students plan to follow the more traditional route and attend college immediately after high school. 

“I want to go to UVA and go into medical school,” junior Matthias Holcomb said. “I’m really interested in being a Pediatric Radiologist and being able to diagnose diseases and conditions.” 

Throughout college, many students take different paths as the upper-level schools offer hundreds of majors and minors to choose from. This makes everyone’s college experience a little bit different. 

“After high school, I want to go to Virginia Tech and major in animal sciences and minor in agribusiness,” senior Lily Hix said. “I have always had a passion for animals, and I really enjoy working with them.” 

Now that the college search season has been in full swing, students must navigate the challenging trial of college filtering, scholarship applications, and even looking for roommates.

“Scholarships are definitely confusing, but they are definitely helpful as well,” Hix says. “I’m very excited for the local scholarships to come out because you know what you’re applying for and are more trustworthy than some random website.”