Choosing College as a Couple

For some, the end of senior year is full of tears as couples breakup to head their separate ways. For others like Francesca Lingat and Alejandro Hernandez who walk down East Leyden’s hallway, hand in hand, are committed to making one of life’s biggest decisions together.

Lingat and Hernandez have been dating for four years and a key part of their college selection has been considering schools that they both want to attend. The only current one that fits both their needs is Drake University in Iowa, but they’re not ruling out other schools. Lingat stated, “We have discussed about going to the same college if it would make both of us successful in life. If we don’t end up attending the same college, we are going to try to stay together. It would be a lot harder to maintain a good relationship, but I think we can handle it. We both understand that this may be the better option for us in the long and we just have to be able to work together.” After high school Lingat and Hernandez are planning to enjoy the time they have with one another just before college comes around.

Yoselyn Flores and Konrad Rogoz have been dating for four months. Four months might not seem like a lot of time, but for them it’s enough to know that they cannot be apart. Both are planning to go to the same college, either in Colorado, California, or New York. They haven’t decided on a specific college, but they have a plan worked out. Flores and Rogoz are  thinking of getting their own apartment close to their college because they know freshmen cannot have their own apartments on campus. However, as time passes by they might consider getting an apartment on campus. Flores concluded, “I’m excited for college because not only do I want to live with Konrad, but I want to see what it’s like living without my parents as a whole.” Flores and Rogoz’s stated that their parents think it’s a great idea that they’re going to the same college because they want them to stay together. After graduating high school Flores and Rogoz want to continue their relationship and continue following their college plan.

Manuela Burek and Casper Pajor have been together for fifteen months. Burek and Pajor haven’t still decided where they want to go to college, but they will most likely go to different colleges. If they do go to separate colleges Burek stated that, “Besides communication, we’re going to try and visit each other as often as we can. That might be easier said than done, but regardless I know we’ll figure it out and make it work.” Both Burek and Pajor plan on attending colleges that are close to one another in order for them to see each other more often.

Jerome Patt is a mathematics teacher at East Leyden and his high school relationship  is an example of a fairytale dream come true. Mr.Patt started dating his high school sweetheart early February his Senior year. After graduating high school Mr.Patt and his sweetheart went to different colleges. Being apart from one another was extremely miserable and difficult. Mr.Patt stated, “We visited as often as we could, but that took a lot of time and money. However it was worth it. We needed to see each other as much as possible!” Seeing each other from time to time didn’t work out, so Mr.Patt’s sweetheart transferred to his college second semester. Once she transferred to his college life became a lot easier. After college they got married and are still together until this day.

Ms. Christine Schulz, a counselor at East Leyden stated that relationships may sometimes be a worthwhile factor in choosing a college. She knows students who have chosen to go to a certain college because their boyfriend or girlfriend are going there. She indicated that she hasn’t seen it happen too often and more commonly she has seen “more students choosing a college simply because their friends are going to that college.”