Senior Shayla Watson, like thousands of high school seniors across America, is busy applying to colleges.

Watson knows this is college application season, especially for those who want an early decision. She knows that if she applies before Halloween, she will likely hear back before Christmas from most colleges.

Watson says she wants to attend either Western Michigan University or Case Western Reserve University. She started her Common Application for Case and aims to finish the application process in October.

Of Southfield High’s 222 seniors, she is rather typical, says Counselor Tom Holliday. Most are entrenched in the application process at this time, he says.

In Watson’s case, she decided that she is not going to retake her ACT because she feels confident about her score. She plans to major in Chemical Engineering and minor in Business.

According to the College Board web site, 57 percent of those who retake the ACT increase their composite score, 21 percent have no change, and 22 percent decrease their score.

Fellow senior Jonah Pollard says he’s busy applying to the University of Toledo and Eastern Michigan University. He plans on applying for early admission; all he has to do is finish applying to the colleges he would like to attend.

Pollard says he is considering retaking the ACT because he is not pleased with his score and knows he can do better. He wants to major in Computer Science and minor in Architecture.

His goal in college is to graduate with a 3.5 grade point average and maintain on the honor roll or the dean’s list. After college he plans to be in another continent, become successful and not worrying about anything in his career.

Senior Mystery Cottingham wants to attend the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus or Northwestern University, in Illinois. She plans to apply early after she receives her first report card in October.

Like Pollard, Cottingham says she would like to retake the ACT because she was not pleased with her score. She plans to study acting and get a bachelor’s degree and eventually a master’s degree.

After college, she seeks starting a family at 23 years of age.

Jay Reid wants to attend Michigan State University or Columbia University.

He signed up to attend an on-site interview with Michigan State University, which is schedule to be held at Southfield High in October. That way he will get an immediate answer at the interview, rather than sending in his application and waiting to hear back.

Reid says he plans to go to college for music and animation, and would like to get his bachelor’s degree and eventually work on his master’s degree.

After college he plans on playing in large symphonies and hopefully doing voice acting for big cartoons some day.