As the year comes to an end, all of the seniors’ college decisions are out. It is very hard for students to make decisions and location is one of the hardest choices to make. Eight WHB seniors chose to attend college in California.
Haley Waszkelewicz will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles. This school has a 12% acceptance rate with 44,334 students. Haley was originally committed to The University of Miami but as soon as she got her acceptance letter from UCLA she knew she wanted to go there. Her sister also went to UCLA and her experience had an affect on Haley’s decision. She said, “My sister 100% made an impact. I got in off the waitlist and I was originally going to UMiami and I was so happy with it. What really made me switch was a call I had with my sister and she told me that even when she first got there she used to think, ‘Haley would love this,’ ‘Haley would love that,’ and that really touched me. Then it came down to what surrounding area fit me more and the fact that I did initially want a bigger school, which UCLA is.”
In the fall, Senior Kayla Hughes will be taking on San Diego State University. SDSU has a 38% acceptance rate with a total of 39,130 students. They offer 17 intercollegiate sports between men and women programs. Moving far away for college has always been a dream for Kayla, and right when she got her acceptance, she knew she wanted to go there. When she visited SDSU she said, “I knew it was the place for me. I instantly felt at home there.” This made her decision much easier. But it still doesn’t come without missing family and friends and also where you live.
Alex Spizuoco and Zoe Stokes are both attending the University of Southern California. The University of Southern California is a private research school with a 12% acceptance rate located in Los Angeles, with a total of 48,945 students. Zoe is very excited. She said, “Everything is making me excited, mainly meeting my suite mates and taking classes I will enjoy.” The athletics and diversity make her fall in love with the school. Zoe is also going to miss the people in New York, but she is ready for the warm California weather. Alex said he will miss “only my mom, my car, and bacon egg and cheeses.”
Class of 2023 alum Miller Brennan went to California last year for his first year of college at San Diego State University. Miller gave us great advice for the eight students going to California. He said, “Once you get to your new school try to join clubs or Greek life to meet many new people. Also, be in social dorms because you can meet pretty cool people who share the same hobbies or interests as you.”
We wish them the best of luck on the West Coast! 
