As graduation approaches, most seniors decide which college to attend. For some, it can be a stressful process of comparing each school’s pros and cons. But, for BVH senior Isabel Arguelles, the choice was always clear. 

“I have committed to San Diego State University. This school has always been my plan because my whole family has graduated from there and worked there. So, it is the only college I was ever really exposed to growing up and it made me want to go there as well,” Arguelles said. 

The school is popular among San Diego students, however, it has an acceptance rate of only 36 percent. BVH offers the Compact for Success” program, which helps students get accepted. Arguelles herself got into SDSU through the program.

“Compact for Success [is] the route I chose in order [to be] accepted. It was a bit stressful because I knew I needed a B or higher in my math class and this year I struggled more with math which put more stress on me,” Arguelles said. 

The required math and English scores depend on each student’s academic history. Students were introduced to the program in sophomore year through a presentation about SDSU and its requirements.

“I plan on majoring in Foods and Nutrition because it has some of the pre-requirements I need in order to apply for [the] UCSD sonography certification program.  I want to be a pediatric ultrasound technician in the future,” Arguelles said. 

Arguelles has a clear plan for her future career. Although she would love the experience of living on campus, as it is something she had been longing for, the expenses are too high. Because of this, she will commute instead of living in a dorm. 

“I am really excited for college but a bit nervous because it is a way bigger campus with way more people than I am used to. But, I am really excited to meet more people,” Arguelles said.

May 1 marks National College Decisions Day, the deadline for high school seniors to commit to a college or university for the fall semester. As that deadline comes and goes, many high school seniors are rethinking the traditional path of enrolling directly in a four-year-university. Rising tuition costs, uncertainty about career goals and the pressure of making long term commitments at a young age have led students to consider more flexible and affordable options. For many students, such as senior Giovanni George, this has led them across the street from BVH to Southwestern College, one of eight public community colleges in San Diego.

“I am probably going to go to Southwestern for two years, take some classes there and see what I really want to do. Then, I will most likely commit to a university majoring in something involving cybersecurity or computer science,” George said.

Facing steep tuition costs and uncertainty about their long term goals, many seniors are choosing a path that allows them to explore their interests without immediately committing to a four year university. For George, community college offers a way to continue education while building confidence and clarity about his future plans. 

“[Attending Southwestern College] is relatively cheaper and actually helps me foster a more firm decision because I am not too sure if I want to seek higher level education,” George said. “I just do not think it is worth putting yourself through that financial strain if you are not committed to college. Southwestern will act as a means towards me reaching that confidence.”

Another factor introducing students like George’s decisions is the challenge of adjusting to college-level expectations. Moving from a high school to a university setting often requires stronger time management, independence and study habits—changes that can feel overwhelming to some seniors. Rather than jumping straight into the environment, some students hesitate, recognizing that they may need more time to develop the skills necessary to succeed in higher level education.

“I think it is a huge shift between high school and college. You are going to have to build way more habits in order to do pretty well in college. I think community colleges like Southwestern are a good entry point to get more adjusted to the college environment,” George said. 

Despite the benefits that draw students to community college, George recognizes that a stigma surrounds it. Unconventional routes to higher education, like community college, often face cynical criticisms such as the misconception that they are only for unsuccessful students disinterested in education. But students like George are large in number, with the San Diego Community College district serving approximately 90,000 students annually. Ultimately, the decision to attend community college is as complex as the decision to attend any four year university, hinging on the unique circumstances of each student.

“The stigma around [community college] is very negative. People think it is just for idiots but it is really not. [Community college] is an alternative for people who do not do well in high school but it is also for people who just cannot afford [four-year university],” George said. “[Students] should not be afraid of going to community college, it is not going to ruin your future; it is just going to alleviate the debt you may obtain later on if you go to a four year college.”

After months of waiting, senior Valentina Castruita is officially headed to University of California, Los Angeles—her dream school.

Castruita had originally committed to University of California, San Diego after being placed on UCLA’s waitlist. Even though UCSD was one of her top choices, UCLA had always been the school she hoped to attend.

“I had initially been waitlisted from UCLA, so I committed to UCSD because it was my number two school,” Castruita said. “But UCLA has always been my dream school.”

When she had received the news that she had been accepted off the waitlist, she did not hesitate to flip her commitment. “It was a no-brainer for me.” she said. 

At UCSD, Castruita planned to study international business. At UCLA, she will major in Business Economics, a program that combines business with a more stronger focus on economics.

“Both majors are rooted in business,” she explained, “but UCLA offers more opportunities, especially because of its location in Los Angeles.”

Valentina believes Los Angeles will provide valuable experiences for her future career and personal interests. To add to studying business, she hopes to minor in fashion.

“I love how rooted Los Angeles is in fashion,” she said. “That is one of the things I want to explore in college.” She is also excited about the engy of city life.

“I would say I am a city person,” Castruita said. “Being able to live in Los Angeles is going to be really fun.”

Castruita will live on campus with one of her close friends from high school and is looking forward to meeting new people and taking advantage of everything UCLA has to offer. “I feel really good about my commitment,” she said.

With her dream school now a reality, Castruita is ready to begin a new chapter of her journey in Los Angeles.

The second semester for seniors at BVH is usually filled with stress and exhaustion, but senior Maya Delgado is excited for her future and what’s to come. After “stretching” herself across various clubs and maintaining a rigorous academic load, Delgado recently learned that she will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this fall.

For Delgado, who plans to major in Mechanical Engineering, the road to Cambridge was paved with equal parts of motivation and stress. While many underclassmen view college applications as a distant problem for “future them,” Delgado spent her years at BVH preparing for the moment she would hit “submit.”

“I have been preparing myself early, like joining a lot of clubs and trying to stretch myself so I had things to look good for colleges,” Delgado said.

However, even with a strong rèsumè, the actual application season proved to be stressful. Delgado described the process as a high-stakes one, where every choice felt like it carried the weight of her entire future.

“I found it really stressful at first because there was so much to do. Having to decide which schools you want to apply to, especially because that affects the rest of your future,” Delgado said. “I think the whole process is stressful, but now that it’s over, I am happy it is behind me.”

For the first time in four years, her schedule is not just about building a portfolio–it is about making memories. She is looking forward to the upcoming senior activities and a final summer of hanging out with friends before the big move across the country. But even with senioritis, she is eager for the change of pace that college life brings.

“Right now, senioritis is really hitting me really badly,” Delgado said. “I am really excited to go and have all this new freedom with this new step in my life,” 

Delgado knows that the juniors and sophomores watching her success might feel overwhelmed by the road ahead. Her biggest piece of advice is simple: do not procrastinate.

“Something I would definitely say is start your college essays early,” Delgado urged. “If you prepare early and start early, you will be less stressed later on and will not have to worry about it.”

She also noted that the secret to a successful application is not just about grades, but about how much you give back to your school community. Delgado said many seniors regret not getting involved in school activities.

“Just do not procrastinate and get involved in your school,” Delgado advised. “I know a lot of people who regret not getting involved.”

As Delgado prepares to trade her BVH spirit gear for MIT cardinal and gray, she leaves behind a blueprint for success that any student can follow: start early, get involved and remember to be present for the moments that matter.

“I am looking forward to hanging out with my friends during the summer. College-wise, I am excited to experience a new kind of freedom,” Delgado said.

College is important for many students because it shapes their future careers and lives. Because of this, students spend a lot of time planning for their future. For example, Senior Audrey Oani plans to study political science, a subject she is passionate about.

“Throughout my high school career, I have always known that I wanted to be involved within my community, and early on I realized that the way to be most involved and actually make a difference is through forms of legislation and active roles within the community, whether that is community government or just officials in my city,” Oani said.

To reach this goal, she joined programs at Bonita that helped her build skills like speaking and advocacy. Each program supported her in working toward her future career path.

“I have always known that Speech and Debate would really help me advocate for those that I want to advocate for, talk about the injustices that I see within my community or just in a global stance in general,” Oani said. “ More recently I had the opportunity to shadow one of the Deputy District Attorneys of San Diego which was Shawnalyse Ochoa. I was able to talk to her for a day and I had gotten this opportunity through one of my advisors in Mock Trial who is an attorney coach. Involving myself in programs like Speech and Debate, Mock Trial and shadowing for the district attorney’s office really helped me find my enjoyment for political science.”

Enjoying a subject is one of the first important steps in planning for the future. However, enjoyment without effort will not lead to success. For Oani, these activities lead up to a bigger goal that requires commitment.

“In terms of the process, a lot of gaining opportunities, completing tasks and work has to do with being very outspoken, advocating for yourself and taking initiative,” Oani said. “Involving myself in these programs has allowed me to find comfort in taking initiative, expressing my voice and reaching out to individuals.”

The college process is different for every student. Some students may be certain, some doubtful. But when it comes to planning for the future, questions will inevitably rise and lead into a rabbit hole.

“Restrospectivly, I think that trusting the process has been the biggest lesson of my entire high school experience,” Oani said. “Reflecting on where I was in the moment, it definitely was really nerve-wracking and kind of intimidating because I would always wonder if I was doing enough or if this is truly making me happy.”

Questions are normal, but they can sometimes make people doubt themselves. For Oani, enjoying what helps her stays motivated and taking initiative helps her throughout this process.

“There was a lot of self doubt throughout the process,” Oani said. “Looking back I think when you put in hard work, put in the effort and genuinely do what you intend to do with passion and enjoyment is when you can fully trust the process because no matter where you are going, no matter what you do, as long as you enjoy what you are doing, I think that trusting the process becomes a lot easier.”

Now that her planning is mostly completed, Oani has a lot to look forward to in college. She is excited about opportunities and meeting new people.

“I am really excited to attend the college I am going to. It was definitely one of my top choices, so actually being able to attend there is extremely exciting in and of itself,” Oani said. “One of the biggest things I am looking forward to is being able to pursue a career path that I am genuinely invested in, and also joining a really fun community with individuals that are equally driven, passionate and like-minded.”

In the end, it depends on how a person feels about their path. Oani says her journey has had many ups and downs. She also expressed a regret she holds in regards to reflecting on her emotions. 

“In terms of writing, writing comes easy when you have done the work of thinking through the process,” Oani said. “I would advise people if there was anything that I could change, I wish I could have kept a journal and taken note of all the feelings I have felt in the exact moment so that reflecting on that process and kind of pinpointing those emotions was a lot easier.”

Now, Oani is focused on her future and is excited for college. As it approaches, she reflects on her own experiences and recounts her own path, highlighting something imperative that people should take to heart.

“If there was anything that I can express to individuals going through the college application process, [it] is to definitely start early,” Oani said. “By starting early I mean really allow yourself to reflect on the experiences that you have gone through, how you felt about those experiences most importantly, where you have come from and how far you have gone as a result of those hardships.”