Albion College Top Questions

Make sure you visit the school and do not be afraid to ask the students questions. Students, for the most part will give you honest testimonials to all your questions. Also do not let friends or boy/girlfriends hender you from going out of state for an education. You learn so much about yourself away from home and it was the best choice I could have made where college is concerned.

Visit the colleges and go with with college that you feel most comfortable with. Remember this is the place you are going to call home for the next four or more years of your life, so it has to feel right to you.

Choosing the right college can be one of the most difficult, yet most important choices you will make in the course of your life. My best advice to those seeking to make this decision is to visit the colleges you are looking at MORE than once. Stay overnight if you can. Eat a few meals. Get a tour of the campus from DIFFERENT students. Don't be afraid to ask any question that comes to mind. Sit in on a class, maybe two. Talk to professors in your field of interest. When you find the right college, you know it. It will be a little switch in your head that seems to just turn on. You will feel like you are at home. No matter where you end up, however, the most important thing is to go into the expirience with an open mind and positive attitude. Making new friends, and expiriencing new places can be overwhelming, but college is what you make of it, and you can have fun no matter where you end up. Don't be afraid to try new things, and don't hold yourself back from new challenges... you will never have the expirience again.

Apply to schools in all types of settings, and to many schools of differing sizes to ensure you pick an appropriate one for you.

Apply to as many schools as possible to keep your options open. Visiting the campus' is also a must in trying to find the right school for you or your child. I highly advise against going to a college just because your friends are going because it would take away from the college experience and also may jeopardize the high school friendships. Get involved with as many actiivites and campus programs as you can because the more that you are involved the better your experience will be. Lastly, choose a school that suits you best because it is the best four years of your life. DONT WASTE IT.

Parents and prospective students: take the time to visit every possible campus for your 4-year college experience. The most important things to note while on the campus are not the quality of the study nooks in the library, or the notoriety of the college sports teams, or the alumni doner statistics, and most importantly do NOT get lured in by the delicious basket of candy in the admissions office. Ask to visit with a professor from your department of interest, or to sit in on a class. And then parents - let your kid stray off alone. I know it will be difficult to let them go, but consider it your own practice for cutting the ties over the next year from your youngster. There are few things more annoying than a poorly adjusted freshman who is too homesick to stay on campus the second weekend and try anything new. Students: on your visitation day, it will be too easy to find college students who can tell you something good about the school because they probably receive a college paycheck to flood you. Instead, enter a common, residential, or fraternity building and try to find someone to say something bad.

Look around, look around, look around! THe right college won't just jump out at you; you will have to search around a little bit. Do your research, too. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's important to know all the positive "post card" facts about schools, but don't be afraid to ask about the negative aspects, too. Finally, once you get to campus, get involved! Find ways to make changes and be involved on campus because chances are you won't have a good time if you don't make friends or find some way to be involved.

I was a tour guide at Albion, and got this question all the time. The most important decision when choosing a college is fit. the school needs to feel comfortable when you are on campus. There should be plenty of activities to do outside of class. If you are interested in sports you should go to a school where you will be able to participate in them, or have the intermural option. If you like to skip class you should go to a small school where your professor will call you when you are not there! If you can study independantly then a big school will work fo you. If you are religious then there should be opportunities for you to be in that community on campus or in the community your school is in. The college or university should be in a community you are comfortable in- big city vs. small town. If the school is a good fit you will enjoy your 4 plus years there. Not only will you enjoy them, you will learn about your content area, and your self because that is the most important part of college- learning who you are!

Visit as many schools as possible, and weigh your options from there. Do not limit yourself to just a few local options. Most of all do not limit yourself according to where your friends or significant other from high school is attending. Go where you feel is right because that is all that counts. Do anything that sounds interesting in college, you only go to college once, make the most of your short 4 years.

Take time to visit the location. Walk around not only the campus, but also make an effort to go into student housing buildings and speak with enrolled students. Make sure you explore the surrounding city to make sure you have somewhere interesting to go when you need to get away from school. Meet with the head of the department that you wish to study under and ask for a tour of the facilities. Distance from home can play a big role in your decision, but don't rely on visiting home too often or you'll find that you're missing out on the full experience that college has to offer. Find some place where you feel appreciated by the faculty and staff instead of being just another number. Small class sizes will enhance the time you get to spend with your teachers and make the class discussions more enthralling. Don't be afraid of trying new things but always make sure you're in a safe setting, if you ever feel uncomfortable, or that you are in danger, don't be afraid to contact the office of campus safety, they're usually more understanding than you may think.