As the end of the year approaches, Arcadia High School (AHS) seniors are busy planning for prom, graduation, and making every moment count with the small amount of time remaining with their friends. But most notably, they have finalized their plans and are preparing to embark on their next academic journey. AHS seniors were asked what their future holds and what they plan to pursue.
One answer was attending one of the University of California (UC) schools, where students can remain in-state while receiving a world-class education. With tuition benefits for California residents, renowned research opportunities, prestigious faculty, and diverse campus experiences, there is no doubt that this option is extremely appealing to AHS students.
“I am going to the University of California, Los Angeles to study Civil and Environmental Engineering. I want to have an engineering degree but don’t know if that is what I want to do as a career yet. I am currently researching pathways into environmental insurance and natural disaster insurance,” said senior Pooja Rajesh.
“I am going to the University of California, Berkeley to study Microbial Biology. I want to go into the medical field, but I am still deciding what career path to take,” said senior Jasmine Su.
Another common answer for AHS seniors was attending a private university, whether in California or across the country. Private universities offer smaller class sizes, personalized instruction, higher four-year graduation rates, and strong alumni networks. These schools typically have higher tuition rates, but private universities offer various types of institutional aid, making them more affordable than expected for many students.
“I am going to the University of Southern California (USC) to major in History and looking to be Pre-law right now.” Acknowledging USC’s resources and countless departments and location, senior Noah Tandoc states, “I am not sure what type of law I want to do right now, but because it’s USC, I’m interested in entertainment law. I am also interested in courses from USC Marshall School of Business, so corporate law is something I am looking into as well.”
“I am going to George Washington University and am studying Biology and hoping to be Pre-med,” said senior Nathanael Acker. When asked about his thoughts of moving to Washington, D.C., Acker remains hopeful, stating that “I know I’m going to get homesick, but I am also excited for a new experience and moving far.”
Some AHS seniors are sports recruits, meaning they are sought out by universities for their talents and committed to play their sport for that school. Sports recruiting is a multi-year process that requires online profiles, highlight reels, notable awards, and hours of dedication.
“I am going to Stanford University and will likely be studying Biomedical Computation. I was recruited to be on the Division 1 Fencing team for Stanford and will be training five times a week,” said senior Jake Lo.
Some seniors are taking a different path towards higher education, by taking a gap semester. Gap semesters offer a unique opportunity, where students can use time to travel, work, find internships, or discover themselves with a short academic break.
“I am taking a gap semester before enrolling at Babson College. I want to try to get a license as an Enrolled Agent, which is a licensed tax practitioner. I also want to get a job and internships for different startups before starting college,” said senior Kary Cheung.
Another path for seniors is enrolling in the military. There are a variety of enticing benefits, including education funding, comprehensive healthcare, retirement opportunities, and financial stability.
“I am going to the United States Marine Corps because it is essentially a cheat code for life. I will receive free college, and not have to pay for taxes, utilities, or food if I am on active duty. I will have a super cool job, and get paid to travel the world, work out, shoot guns, and go on hikes,” said senior Dylan Villanueva.
A popular path for seniors from AHS is attending community college, which allows them to save money on tuition, improve academic records, and explore different career options with a variety of resources available. The most common choice is Pasadena City College (PCC), which is recognized as one of the nation’s top community colleges and is known for successful transfers to UC schools.
“I am going to PCC and planning on getting an associates degree, then transferring to a four year university while pursuing a degree in finance. This way I can save money and work a job while still receiving a great education,” said senior Zion Murrithi.
Regardless of what path each student decides to take, it serves as testament to their hard work while at AHS and a bright future ahead of them.
