American University Top Questions

I would look at the difficulty of the academics, the potential for the school to help with the student's career choices, and the location. When I applied to American, I only had those first two pieces of advice in mind; I never thought about what city I was living in. I'm glad I chose American because I love being in such a thriving city such as Washington, D.C.. Some of my other choices of colleges were located in the middle of now where and I'm so glad I picked AU because there are so many opportunities in DC that I wouldn't have had if I hadn't attended a college in DC. So as my dad always says, "Location, location, location!"

Be sure that you can afford it and that the quality of the education matches the cost. Colleges have become more of a business than an educational institution and if you aren't going to that good of a college, it might not be worth it at all.

Students: Make sure you think about where you'd fit in, and whether you really think you'll survive on that campus. Your college experience is what you make of it; talk to your roommates, your floormates, that random person standing next to you in the lunch line. You'd be surprised the people you meet. Take advantage of your professors and their expertise, and also take a good look at the career center and the counselors. They are very helpful people. Parents: Let your student decide where they want to go...remind them of all the things you can think of to help them make a good decision. But in the end, it's THEIR life. Let them choose where they want to go, because they will be much happier, and therefore much more successful, because of it.

The advice I would give parents or studets about finding the right college and making the most of the experience, is to really take time to think about what they want in a school, and to weigh the costs and benefits of going to a certain school over another one. I would definitely tell them to pay close attention to the financial aid process, and how much the school costs and how much aid--merit or need based that the school is willing to offer. I would also tell them to pick a school that is located where they want to go and that has programs that interest them, and people they would want to be surrounded by. Not everyone knows what they want to do after high school but having a general idea will help a lot in the selection process. Secondly, In order to make the most of the college experience do not be afraid to talk to new people. Definitely do not be afraid to take advantage of every opportunity that the college has to offer, whether it be career fairs, or study abroad, get as much exposure and experience as you can before you graduate.

Be open to changing your mind about your first choice. The school you want may not accept you. Or, when you go for a visit, you may realize that it's just not for you. Or, your second choice might offer you a lot more financial aid. Either way, keep in mind that there are a lot of schools in this country, and that if you don't end up at your first choice, it doesn't really matter, as long as you're happy.

When I applied to college I was determined! I wanted to go to a top 10 school, and failure to do so seemed like failure in life. Around March acceptance letters began rolling in, and I was entirely discouraged to find that I did not get into my top choices. This ended up being a blessing. Starting classes, meeting peers, and exploring a new geographical area all at once taught me that it?s not what school one attends, but how we attend that school that counts. After starting at American University, I discovered that all schools have excellent professors, active social groups, and ample campus activities. Seeking out and taking advantage of those offerings has been a joy! My most important advice in applying to colleges is this: Don?t focus on the name of a school as much as its substance. Determine what?s important to you, and seek that out in a college. Don?t assume that all Ivy Leagues will give excellent experiences by virtue of their name; sometimes the most unexpected pleasures of the college experience will be ones you must claim yourself.

Finding the right college is about having a feeling that the school is right when you step on campus. Don't settle for somewhere you don't want to go or aren't sure about. To make the most of the college experience, find friends who are passionate about what you are or who love what you do. You don't have to be into the wild party scene or go crazy in order to find a second family at college. It's easy to find friends, but if you can find people to be your family away from home, that's invaluable.

Make sure you go to the campus when school is in session so you can meet and see the people and the classroom setting.

Visit the college before you go and try to just observe without any one around telling you about the school, because that is their interpertation and yours might be different.

Spend some time at the college. It is important to have a feel for the place to see if you belong and would enjoy going there. Also, it's ok if you don't feel like it's the right place once you get there. It takes some time and give it a chance.