Host: Sahaana Mehta (‘25)

Guests: Jenny Han (‘25) Jonai Keys (‘25)

Producer: Sahaana Mehta

Transcription: Sahaana Mehta, with REV.com 

Logo: Claire Kim (’25)

Background Music: “The World” by Capcut

It’s that time of year again for BOHS seniors: choosing which college or university will be the best fit. On this episode of the Pawdcast, host Sahaana Mehta (‘25) examines the struggles of choosing the right college, covering everything from considering options, to finances and location, to the overall environment. Joined by two guests, seniors Jenny Han (’25) and Jonai Keys (’25), Sahaana discusses the emotional rollercoaster that high school seniors across the country are facing.  

Sahaana (00:01): 

Hey everyone. Welcome back to the Pawdcast. I’m your host Sahaana, and today we’re diving into the exciting and sometimes stressful journey of college final decisions. Almost all decisions are officially out, and it has been an emotional rollercoaster for so many of us and myself included. But today we’re going to help break down some of these emotions and decisions with the help of a couple amazing guests. 

First up, we have Jonai Keys here who’s going to talk us through her feelings after receiving all of her acceptances.

Jonai, thanks for joining me today. 

Jonai (00:41):

Thank you. 

Sahaana (00:43):

So Jonai, we’re here to talk about college decisions and emotions. You’ve been through the same emotional journey that a lot of us are going through right now, and you’ve received your acceptances from both of your dream schools. So tell me, how does it feel to get into, not one but two schools you’ve always dreamed of attending?

Jonai (00:58):

Thank you for asking, Sahaana. I feel like once I got into the first school, I was so happy and it was like, oh my gosh, my dream has already come true. But then once I really got into that one school UCLA, it was just like, oh my gosh, God has really blessed me to be in this position because even though there’s a lot of lows from struggling with finances or the location or not sure where you want to go, I still have the high of even getting to choose between these two. Having those options.

Sahaana (01:30):

I feel like it’s almost a bittersweet feeling, right? Because on one hand you are so excited to have these opportunities, but on the other hand, there’s like you mentioned, the weight of deciding like, wow, which one is the right fit for me? And I think it’s definitely a mix of joy and also a little bit of anxiety, and that’s totally normal. So when you first saw your acceptances, what did you do? Did you immediately celebrate or was it more of a sit down and reflect moment?

Jonai (01:57):

Okay, let’s talk about before: When I saw that there was a status update for Spelman [College], they actually didn’t tell us what day it was going to come out. I didn’t know what day it was going to come out, and I saw a status update and I was like, no way. This is real. No way. This came out. So my friend and I actually applied to the same school. So I called her, I was like, there’s a status update, but I didn’t want to open it with her. I knew that if I got rejected, I was going to be crying and ruining her moment.

So I hung up the phone and I just went to my parents’ room and I said, it’s time to pray. I said, it’s time to pray. And me and my parents just started praying. And then right before I opened that acceptance, I was like, God, please. Once I opened that acceptance, I was screaming on that bed, I was jumping up. I was so happy, I was so excited. And I feel like in those types of experiences, all I could do is really thank God, because I also did that for UCLA too, which I’m sorry for mom and dad when I opened UCLA, they were not there. But that’s only because UCLA does not have its own portal. I had to go through Safari to do it, and it was weird. So when I did that one, I actually ran through the room, I ran through the house, not the room.

Sahaana (03:12):

I think it’s so, so important to take a moment and let all that excitement sink in. I feel like we often forget how much hard work goes into getting to this point and embracing that joy is key. It’s a big accomplishment to even get to this point, and you should definitely celebrate. But of course the hard part is coming next, deciding where to go, and that is exactly what we’re going to talk about in this next section.

Let’s bring Jenny Han in to dive deeper into the factors we should be considering when choosing a school.

Jenny, thank you so much for being here today.

Jenny (03:42):

Thanks for having me, Sahaana. Excited to chat with you and Jonai about this huge decision.

Sahaana (03:44):

Of course. So we’ve already talked about the emotional side of things, and now we’re going to shift gears and focus on the practical side of the decision-making process. Jenny, I know that you’ve been through this process yourself and Janai, you’re in the thick of it too. So let’s dive into some of the most important factors that we should all be thinking about when choosing a college.

First off, location. For a lot of students, the location of a school can really affect their decision. What are your thoughts, Jenny, on how important location is when choosing a school?

Jenny (04:16):

For me, location definitely plays a big role. I don’t want to be too close to home, but I also don’t want to be super far either. I feel like San Diego would be the perfect distance, far enough for independents, but still close enough to visit home if I need to. But for me, APU [Azusa Pacific University] is honestly a little closer than I like. It’s only a 30 to 40 minutes drive from my house. I’ll be dorming there. So I’ll still get the sense of independence, but part of me was looking for a bit more distance just to really feel like I’m in a new environment.

Then there’s Northeastern, which is kind of the opposite. It’s really far. You start in Oakland the first year and then possibly move to Boston after that. And that distance definitely makes me a little nervous. And one big thing for me is the weather. If a place is gloomy or rainy a lot, it seriously affects my mood. It makes me want to stay inside and not go out or be active, and that can lead to mood swings or feeling low. So yeah, I’ve been paying attention to the climate at each school too.

Sahaana (05:11):

I think that’s something that I kind of forgot to consider when I was looking at things, but I’m a little bit of the opposite. I love gloomy and rainy weather. It makes me so happy. But for me, location definitely plays a big role. And I’m currently choosing between UC Irvine and UC Berkeley. I feel like UCI is close enough that I could easily go home when I want to, and you have the support of your family, but Berkeley feels like a whole new adventure. It’s a bit further away, and I think I’d have to get used to a bigger, more urban environment.

What about you, Jonai? Does location play a major role in your decision?

Jonai (05:47):

Okay, so unlike you guys, I feel like location doesn’t play a big role for me. It’s just making sure that they are the same or similar. I wouldn’t see myself going to Iowa or Kansas because that’s just something I’m not used to. But since my two schools that I’m going against are UCLA and Spelman, I wanted to make sure that I was getting a sense of security from both. And going to UCLA would be, well, we know that’s a nice area and it’s literally L.A. and it’s not too far into downtown L.A. where it’s like, the ‘hood, but it’s also pretty nice. And then it’s also more towards the Valley, so you get those rich people and make sure that you feel safe. But I know USC is not like that at all. So I was like, okay, UCLA is actually a good choice for that. But then Spelman, on the other hand, is closer to the ‘hood, or not the ‘hood, 

Sahaana (06:44):

Where is Spelman again?

Speaker 2 (06:45):

It’s in Georgia. Atlanta, Georgia. And I made sure, because downtown L.A. in downtown Atlanta, when I got the vibes, they’re very similar. And then once you go out, it’s more “city” or whatever, but Atlanta, it’s downtown Atlanta. It feels like downtown L.A,. right? But once you go out, this is the South, you can see the green grass start to come out in houses in the woods. I’m like, oh, the bear is about to pop out. That’s what I feel like. So I guess location doesn’t really, I don’t care how far I am from my family because I have family in Atlanta. And then also I feel like I could call, maybe when it happens I’ll start feeling homesick or whatever, but right now I’m just ready to go give me away. So right now, location is not the issue. It’s really just finances or whatever, making sure that I can afford college or at least get some scholarship to afford or help me relieve the pressures or financial burdens. But I think UCLA or Spelman, they’re pretty similar. 

Sahaana (07:52):

I think there’s also the academic fit, which is something to look into.

Jenny, what would you say are the key things that students should consider when they’re looking at academic programs?

For me, UCI feels like a perfect fit for my future and my goals. But then Berkeley has a very strong reputation and endless opportunities that come with the amount of alumni they have and funding for research. So it’s really hard not to get excited about that.

Jenny (08:15):

So my major at Azusa Pacific University is nursing, and they have a direct entry program, which I really love. They’re actually known for having a strong nursing program. And I get clinical hours there, which is a big plus since I want to become a nurse. They also have a really good student-to-faculty ratio, which I appreciate because I feel like I get more support that way. And the only thing I wasn’t super into was the size of the campus. I kind of wish it was a bit bigger when I visited. But then there’s Northeastern where I got into health sciences and psychology. I don’t know as much about their program yet, but in general, I know I learned best in hands-on collaborative environment, not just lectures. I’m trying to think about which school gives me more of that.

Sahaana (08:57):

Right. Northeastern being such a prestigious school, it’s very easy for students to get caught up in that prestige, even with UCLA,

Jonai, but it’s really about finding a program that’s going to set you up for success personally. And speaking of academic fit, class size and faculty student ratio, like you mentioned Jenny, also matter.

So Jonai, do you have any thoughts on this? Do you think you lean more towards a smaller close-knit environment or a larger, more competitive one?

Jonai (09:24):

Most definitely I feel like I’m more of a person who likes conversation and talking with people. So being in a class like UCLA where there’s too many people in that classroom, I feel like I would, I’ll get to know people because I feel like I’m very a social butterfly or whatever. But I still feel like Spelman gives that close-knit family. They’re already talking to me right now, and I haven’t even stepped on campus. So I know once I go, I’ll find my people and actually they will all be my people probably because their whole mantra is “sisterhood” and it’s all girls school. And then UCLA, on the other hand, that’s a huge state school, so it’s like 50,000 people. And I don’t know if I’ll really find my people. I probably will, but it’s more scary when you see that large number. And then you see the small number of Spelman. Spelman’s 5,000 total. And that’s with undergrad, post grad, that’s 5,000 total. And then UCLA is like 50,000.

Sahaana (10:34):

And like you said, with the UCs, I know that they are very known for, like you said, the giant population sizes. So it’s also tougher for you to create that close knit relationship with your professors because oftentimes they are so busy and so packed with their schedules that they have their TAs teaching the class or they just, they’re out before the lecture even ends. And I think class size is a really big deal, especially if you want more personalized attention, it can really affect your college experience. So it’s something worth thinking about. So we’ve talked about the emotions. We’ve discussed some factors to consider, but now we’re in the part where it feels like it’s all coming together. It’s finally time for spring break, and now we get to visit campuses, see the schools in person, and really figure out where we belong. And I have to say, I am super excited for this part, but it’s also kind of overwhelming. I mean, balancing your dream school with practical factors kind of feels like a tug of war. And I know we’ve already mentioned things like location and campus culture, but what do you guys think is the most important thing to focus on when you actually step foot on campus? How do we make the most of these visits?

Jonai (11:41):

So as of today, tomorrow I’m going to go to UCLA to visit for Bruin Day. And I feel like when I go, I’m going to make the most by talking to faculty and staff, of course. But the most important to me is really the quality of life at UCLA, me being a minority or a Black woman, it’s different considering me going to UCLA as an Asian or white person. So when I go, I’m going to attend the Bruin Day “Black by Popular Demand” by the African Student Union, and basically I’m going to meet current Black UCLA students. And I feel like from that event, I can actually understand how I’m going to see UCLA from my lens and their lens. And I think it’s going to really allow me to make the decision. Is UCLA really going to be a great fit for me? Because I want to be in an environment where I am celebrated and where I can actually be comfortable to learn and not be looking over my shoulder every single second. And Spelman, when I go to Spellbound April 26, I already know that school is for me, it’s just really is UCLA, not for me because Spelman’s an HBCU [Historically Black Colleges and Universities], meaning I do have many Black young women who are going to have my back and be around and I can learn from. So it’s just, we’ll see tomorrow if UCLA’s the answer.

Sahaana (13:09):

Honestly, I feel like I can really relate to everything you just said because as far as this whole culture of being around people who look like you, who see things the way you do, that is something that I am so picky about when I’m looking at my colleges. And it was even something that I really paid attention to when applying. I checked the demographics of all my schools because I wanted to know, is there a college that I can go to that has more Indian people coming from a school that is predominantly Asian, and you’re also a minority here? I want to go to a place that provides me with opportunities for me to engage in more cultural activities as well. So UCI and UC Berkeley both have a lot of Bollywood dance teams-type of things, and South Asian culture associations, things like that. So I think that is so, so important. I’m really glad you touched on that.

Jenny (14:08):

I think the most important thing when visiting a campus is really paying attention to how you feel when you’re there. Does it feel like a place you can actually see yourself living and growing for the next few years? For example, when I visited a APU, I actually got to do an overnight stay in a student dorm. And I totally loved that experience. It gave me such a real feel for the campus atmosphere, and I could imagine myself studying, hanging out and just sleeping there. And then the next day I also got to talk to a few current students who are in the nursing program. And hearing about their experiences really helped me understand what the program is like and what kind of support and opportunities I would have with the professors and all that.

And for Northeastern, I haven’t been to Northeastern yet, but I’m going next week. So I’m hoping that visit gives me more clarity. You can read more about schools online all day, but actually being there, talking to students, walking around, seeing campus, how it feels, that’s what really helps everything put together and click right.

Sahaana (15:03):

And I feel like it’s so crazy how much pressure we put on ourselves to make this decision, but the best advice that I can give myself and all of us, it’s to just trust the process. I think we’ve worked so hard to get to this point, so now it’s just about choosing the place that feels like the best fit. And we should remember that no matter where we go, we’re all going to create our own unique experiences. 

That’s a wrap for today’s episode. I want to give it a big thanks to Jonai and Jenny for sharing your insights. 

Jonai & Jenny (15:29):

Thank you!

Sahaana (15:30):

If you guys are in the middle of making this huge decision, just know that you’re not alone and there are so many factors to consider, so it’s definitely okay to take your time. As for me, I am also going to continue reflecting on where this will take me, and I hope this episode has helped all of you guys with your decision too. Thanks for tuning in and I will see you guys next time. Remember, wherever you decide to go, it’s just the beginning of an incredible adventure.