Arcadia University Top Questions

Which ever school seems to feel right in your gut, go for it.

Visit every campus you're interested in, and even ones that are just interested in you. I hadn't even heard of my school until they offered me a scholarship challenge; when I went there to take it, the moment I walked on campus I knew that I could live there. And I've been incredibly, incredibly happy. When you find the right school, it's like being in love: you just KNOW. So make sure you have that feeling.

just pick what you feel really works for you and dont settle

If you have an idea of what you want to major in, find schools that have good programs for that subject and remember to look around at several different locations, even those that you wouldn't think of first, because those may be the most surprising. If you don't know what you want to major in, try looking around at different areas to see if anything looks like a place you want to live and learn in for four years. Making a list of the things you would like your college to have, it's helpful when looking through lots of different schools by narrowing down your choices. I found it very helpful to talk to people who have gone to, or know other people that went to different colleges I was interested in because personal accounts or experience can sometimes be more helpful than online descriptions or statistics. The most important thing is to explore as many as you can and try to picture yourself there: Does it have the resources I will need? Will I be comfortable living here? What is there to do around here? What do other students say about the professors and student life?

When it comes to selecting the correct college or university for someone, in my opinion, the most important aspects are the quality of the education, accessability of the professors, quality of social life, and even to be exposed to new experiences. Sometimes it is better to move slightly out of your comfort zone. This is what allows us to grow and mature as we become adults. In addition to this, it is important to have professors that are easy to get in touch with. This is where the true value of the education shows. Any school has classes that will challenge the students, but the truly exceptional ones are those who allow the students to interact one-on-one with their professors. This exposes them to the field that they are interested in in its entirety. It also allows them to get important hands-on experience. This will help later on in job searches. When considering the college experience, the social aspect is very inportant. It is important to look for the amount and quality of the activities that the school provides. Overall, the more interactive and intellectually and socially stimulating the school is, the more successful students will be.

No matter where you go to school it's really important to be open minded and be active. Unlike high school, no one is going to hold your hand and walk you through the process of picking classes or joining clubs or anything, except maybe the first semester. You also don't need to answer to anyone but yourself, so don't be afraid to ty new things, joing new clubs or try new sports, if you want to do something than you absolutely should. The most important factor in picking a school should be not only the academic, but also something that really catches your attention- like a program or sport or just their statement of purpose. A good study abroad program is also a good indicator of the schools involvement and the types of opportunities that might be available.

As I searched for colleges, I wanted to find the "right" one. I searched in my own state and in the surrounding areas. First, you have to decide how far you want to be from home. I chose a school 45 minutes away-just right in my opinion-not too far that your parents are worried constantly but not too close that they can come visit every weekend. I wanted a place that I could matter to my professors, and a place where I could get to know people quickly. Think about how you picture your college experience and find a place where you see that happening. Pay attention to the classroom environments you worked well in during high school and find a college that supports that same kind of learning. Think about how each college you look at will be like your first, second, third, and senior year there. College is an amazing time in your life. It is a chance to learn a lot about yourself and the person you want to be, it is the best time to experience new things. You learn more about yourself during your college years than you do about your major.

I would tell parents and students to start early to find the perfect college or university that they will be comfortable in attending. And also to get started with the financial aid and scholarship process as soon as they can. It takes alot of money to go to college these days.

If I were to give advise I would say go with the college that you get so excited you got accepted to you flip out in your kitchen or by your mailbox, because that is what I did. When I saw that I was accepted to Arcadia I jumped up and down and screamed and called every family member. I knew that Arcadia was the college I really wanted to go to because of the reaction I had. Just go with your gut feelings because they are usually right. And making the most of your experience to me means getting involved with activities that you would have been involved with at home. Make new friends and just be yourself. Its hard adjusting to college life so just give it a chance before throwing in the towel. People in college in the same year are probably feeling the same way so just make new friends and breathe because college is hard work and good fun.

I strongly believe that the student should decide where he/she should go. Parents should not be as involved once reaching college. Students need to look at several different variables when choosing a college, e.g. location, number of undergraduates, involvement on campus, etc. If a student is solely in college for the academics, then that student should go where education is the best and he/she can dedicate all of his/her time on learning. At the school I attend, academics and involvement are nearly equal. I maintain an amazing GPA as well as act as a student leader in several clubs and organizations. The best way, as aforementioned, is to way out the pros and cons of each school you wish to apply to and pick the one, not with the most pros, but the least amount of cons. And when applying, don't only apply to a certain type of school. Have a variety so the student can have choices to pick from.