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Budget impasse leaves some high school seniors thinking twice about college

The deadline for high school seniors to choose a college is coming soon, but students wanting to stay in Illinois, the decision is a little bit harder. The stat...

The deadline for high school seniors to choose a college is coming soon, but students wanting to stay in Illinois, the decision is a little bit harder. The state's budget impasse has forced several public universities to lay off staff and not able to fund grants.  Guidance counselors tell us what advice they're giving students.

At Rock Island High School it's been business as usual.

"I think to some extent we are worried, but it does not alter the advice that we give students," said Preston.

While this next year of college might be more challenging than previous years, guidance counselors Kelly Preston and Jennifer Page Pierson asked for their senior students to stay positive.

"We're just encouraging students to continue with their normal plan, their FAFSA, to apply to college and hope for the best," said Preston.

The state of Illinois is facing the worst budget crisis in state history, bringing funding for higher education to a halt, universities forced to cut staff and programs that help students pay for tuition.

"The map grant is up in the air so I'm sure reality is setting in that there may or may not be there and as students and parents budgeting for their financial future they're taking that into consideration," said Page Pierson.

It's adding another factor into student's decision-making process.

"It was just nerve-racking to see what would happen with everything," said high school senior Kristina Moore.

The counselors recommend students explore all of their financial options and have at least three schools in mind whether they're in Illinois or not.

"We want them to look at life behind high school because the reality is in order to have something that's effective and efficient you need to look at education behind high school," said Page Pierson.

The deadline for students to choose a school is May 1st.

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