May 1 is a significant day for many high school seniors across the county, as it marks the deadline by which they are expected to commit to a college. This day is widely known as “National Decision Day.”

“This is an opportunity to celebrate all seniors on what they accomplished over these four years and where they are heading next year,” said Jennifer Huey, the college and career counselor at RHS.

To celebrate the day, seniors across the country wear shirts, sweatshirts or other swag that proudly displayed the names and logos of the colleges they plan to attend.

For many RHS seniors, going to Freedom Park during open lunch is a Decision Day tradition, and this year was no exception. There, they took pictures of each other and celebrated everyone’s successes. This was a sentimental moment for some, as the majority of the class had come together in the park to celebrate the rapidly approaching end of their four years together at the high school.

Seniors agreed that many factors­ went into choosing their college. “I switched my decision because I want go to law school after undergrad and wanted to save money,” said senior Briana Lange, who plans to attend Rutgers University for political science in the fall. “I also wanted a more traditional college experience and will hopefully live in a city later in my life.”

Some students will be traveling a great distance for college, to all four corners of the country and even abroad. This includes senior Anais Thauvin, who chose to attend McGill University in Canada. “My sister goes to McGill, and when I went to visit her, I loved the college,” she said.

Others will be sticking closer to home. “I decided to stay close to home because of my college,” senior Yolanda Sabillon said. “Montclair State University is known for their education programs, and I wanted the best for my future.”

Students agreed they were happy to have completed the rigorous college application process and stressful wait to hear back. “The preparation and work were definitely not easy,” said senior Drew Weinroth, who will be attending Cornell University in the fall. “It took many late nights of homework and hours of extracurricular activities, but I still enjoyed my high school experience, and I didn’t feel I needed to sacrifice fun and my time to get accepted into a school.”

Based on data from the RHS Class of 2025 commitment page on Instagram, some of the most popular choices for colleges include the following:

• • Rutgers University
  • Indiana University
  • University of Alabama
  • Penn State
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Montclair State University
  • University of Delaware
  • James Madison University

Decision Day can be one of the most rewarding but also most stressful days for seniors. For most, however, it’s a great day to share accomplishments with friends and family and reminisce about the past four years.

As Decision Day was ending, the RHS seniors received a special surprise in the high school lobby. The school provided chocolate-covered Oreos decorated in blue and white with an image of the Ram, the high school mascot, and the words, “Decision Day! RHS Class of 2025.”

“What I will miss the most about Randolph is the people who made my time here so memorable,” Sabillon added. “This includes staff, family and friends.”