I Decided! Celebrating College Decisions and Career Choices in High School

Student Leadership Network’s CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) Decision Days are intentional and joyful celebrations of students’ college, career, and service choices after high school. Led by our directors of college counseling in each of our partner high schools, Decision Days have the same intensity and importance as signing days for sports and enhance school-wide college-going cultures. Inspired by the first College Signing Day launched by former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative in 2014, our signature annual event has evolved to incorporate celebrations of all postsecondary decisions, including college, trade schools, apprenticeships, and military service!

Hear reflections from Ermelie above, a senior at the High School for Youth and Community Development, about her college application experience and the guidance of her director of college counseling, Alberto Lainez.

See more highlights of our Decision Days for the Class of 2025 below!

  • Six young people stand together smiling in front of a Student Leadership Network backdrop, some wearing blue “Decision Day” shirts and casual clothing, with balloons to the side.
    HS for Youth and Community Development
  • A group of students poses in front of large gold “2025” balloons and a red background, smiling and making peace signs.
    Williamsburg Prep
  • Four women stand behind a table with a Burgard High School cloth; two hold certificates and folders, while one gives a thumbs up. Balloons and a projector screen are in the background.
    Burgard HS
  • A group of students at an indoor event hold university signs and wear college shirts, smiling and cheering.
    Central Park East HS
  • Three people wearing matching blue Decision Day shirts pose and smile in front of a balloon display at Campos Cougars Decision Day 2025 event.
    Juan Morel Campos
  • A group of eight young people pose together outdoors, wearing CCNY and Decision Day shirts in front of a green and silver fringe backdrop.
    TYWLS Queens
  • Seven people stand on a stage holding certificates, with purple and gold balloons in front and a podium to the side.
    Riverside Academy
  • A group of students and adults pose for a group photo on a stage, with several people in the audience photographing them. A green and white logo is displayed in the background.
    Young Women’s College Prep
  • A tray of cupcakes topped with small flags displaying various college and organization logos, including Hilbert College, SUNY Erie, and Buffalo State.
    East Side HS’s college-themed cupcakes
  • Three students in blue shirts stand in front of a gold and black balloon backdrop, holding college acceptance signs for Arizona State University and Boston University.
    Manhattan Early College School for Advertising
  • Three women stand smiling in a classroom decorated with student photos and the phrase I just wanna be successful on the wall. Two of the women wear blue Decision Day shirts.
    South Park HS
  • A group of people, many wearing Decision Day shirts, pose together indoors in front of gold balloon numbers 2 and 5 and decorative balloons.
    TYWLS Astoria
  • A group of students indoors hold up blue I Decided T-shirts and smile at the camera, with others wearing matching shirts.
    Marble Hill School for International Studies
  • A group of students stand together holding decorated college signing posters, some wearing blue T-shirts that read #CollegeSigningDay.
    Bronx Envision Academy
  • A group of nine young adults pose and smile for a selfie at an outdoor event, some holding props and wearing college-themed shirts, with a sparkling backdrop behind them.
    The Heritage School
  • A large group of students pose on an auditorium stage, many wearing college shirts and holding gift bags, in front of a red curtain and tiered seating.
    East Side Community HS
  • Three students stand in a school hallway holding a round sign that reads “Student Leadership Network CollegeBound Initiative.”.
    McKinley HS
  • A large group of students sit in an auditorium facing a stage with a Math Science & Technology Preparatory High School banner, balloons, and a speaker at a podium.
    Math, Science & Technology HS

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