As senior year rolls to an end, it’s time for students to start thinking where they want to go to college. Many students are planning to leave Dubuque to go to places ranging from Iowa City, Iowa, all the way to St. Augustine, Florida.

Alex Kruse and John Chapman, ‘15, both plan to go to The University of Iowa although they are undecided as to their major. But their reasons for going are different.

Kruse said, “I picked this college for myself because it was cheap.”

Cheap was not Chapman’s intent. “I have always wanted to go there,” he said.

Going away has its disadvantages, though. Both of these students say they’ll miss people they’re leaving behind.

“I don’t want to leave my little brother,” said Chapman.

Kruse said, “I’m least excited about leaving all my friends here.”

Elly Whiteman, ‘15, is planning on going to Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids to study criminal justice. She says she is eager for college. “I’m nervous about possibly getting lost,” said Whiteman, “but I’m also excited for a new city. Meeting a new variety of people will be nice, too.”

Melina Fortin, ‘15, who plan to attend Flight Academy in Minnesota, is excited about what lies ahead as well. “I’m not going to really miss anything. I’m just excited about not knowing anyone at the academy,” said Fortin. “It’s really well known for after employment rate, and it’s a good program.”

Lana Kaczmarek, ‘15, plans on traveling over a thousand miles to go to Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, to study deaf education. But she won’t be there all alone.

“I don’t have any family that live in or near Iowa, so my family wanted to move closer to family in Florida. Over the summer I went on a few college visits, and Flagler was the only one that I felt really ‘got me’ with it being a small school and having my major interest,” said Kaczmarek.

Leaving home is still going to be hard for Kaczmarek, though.

“With show choir being over, I am going to be sad that I won’t be able to drive up to come to competitions or the home show to support my fellow teammates. I’m also not looking forward to rarely getting to see my friends because I am so far away.”

Whether it’s 83 miles away to Iowa City, or over 1,000 miles to St. Augustine, going away to college is a different experience for everyone.