As college application season comes to an end, seniors at San Leandro High aren’t just choosing colleges, they are choosing what feels right for their future. Many students applied to a mix of University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and community colleges. Their decisions often narrow down to personal goals, learning styles and life circumstances. So how do you know which education path is right for you? To find out, let’s see which schools San Leandro High seniors have applied to.
Vyvian Le, a San Leandro High senior, said the University of California campuses have always been the goal. “As of now, I prefer UCs because it’s always been my goal since I was in elementary school,” Le said. She has long planned to attend a four year university and believes that this path will open more opportunities in the workforce. Academic competition also appeals to Le. “They are academically competitive, which makes them feel like the best fit,” Le said.
UC campuses offer much more than academics, providing opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. Le thought carefully about her experiences beyond academics. While campus size and environments were not major factors, she hopes that UCs will guide her to grow socially. “ I would like to step out of my comfort zone and socialize more,” Le said. “Especially since I’m more of an introvert.”
However, at the same time she feels pressured due to how competitive top UCs are, like Berkeley and UCLA. “It’s very competitive and I might not get in,” Le said. Having considered a business marketing major, she realized that limited programs and resources for a specific major can also influence students’ preferences.
Aier Lin also leaned toward UCs, applying to more UC campuses than CSUs. She was drawn to both UCs and CSUs due to affordability for California residents and the strong reputation both offer as top public universities nationally. “I prefer UCs for being affordable for California residents,” said Lin. “While also being known for having the top schools.”
She had also placed strong importance on the campus environment, looking for urban, diverse locations and a larger campus feel while still staying in-state to manage living expenses. Financial aid played a major role in expanding her options. “I was able to receive fee waivers,” said Lin. “Which allowed me to apply to more UC campuses.”
With reduced application fees, she could apply to a more variety of schools that match and align with her major and offer access programs.
For some students, the decisions are based on flexibility and practicality. Annie Lei had applied to San Jose State University (SJSU), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Fullerton and community colleges but she currently prefers San Jose State University. “It’s one of the best California State Universities in the Bay,” Lei said. Lei focused mainly on colleges within California and ones that accept AP credit.
Lei also considered affordability, which is why she applied to community college as a backup. “I applied to Chabot because it was more affordable to finish my first two years there instead,” Lei said. While she has considered the engineering field, it is a competitive and impacted major at universities like SJSU and Cal Poly. Lei says she is still unsure about her exact path. Even then, she knows she wants support along the way, “I prefer a more supportive environment because I’d rather have resources to help me thrive,” said Lei.
Fiona Xu chose a different route entirely, applying only to Chabot College. Staying close to home was the biggest factor. Xu intends to work while attending school and save as much money as possible. “I didn’t really care about the size or environment. I mostly looked at this location since it is extremely convenient and I have people who also went to this college.” Xu said.
She is interested in majoring in science and hopes to become a dermatologist. This path allows her to transfer through programs like Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG). This program allows community students to receive guaranteed admission to six out of nine of the University of California campuses. (UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego excluded). For Xu, community college feels like a practical first step that allows her to stay financially independent, while working hard toward long-term goals.
As graduation approaches, one thing becomes clear: Despite these students’ different college preferences, they all share similar goals and dreams of earning a degree, finding the right college environment and carefully setting themselves up for success. While some students prioritize academic challenge, others focus on career preparation and financial flexibility, but all of these students’ decisions reflect on their own goals, individual personalities or preferences and financial circumstances. Now that we have seen a few of the class of 2026’s decisions. Which path will the class of 2027 be taking?
