Bellarmine University Top Questions

When I first set out to find a college, I looked for a number of things but most importantly, I looked for somewhere I wouldn't be miserable for the foreseeable future. When I visited each campus that I was considering, I talked to the students and wandered around campus, but what impacted my decision most was wondering around the towns and cities each college was located in. Getting to know the area I would be immersed in is what ultimately made me choose. I found an eclectic city with small town charm, and I've loved every minute of it.

Don't choose a college because your friends go there or it has a prestegous name. You should pick your college based on the class size that is most comfortable for you, the community surrounding the school, and the focus of the majors available. At any school you will find your group of friends and it will probably be the same type of people you will seek out anywhere, the big difference is the community that you are surround yourself with. Don't try to conform and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone a little bit and venture a little farther from home then you originally planned. College is an experience i feel everyone should have but it is expensive and if you have to worry about how you are going to pay for the next semester for 4 years than maybe you should consider finances before putting yourself through that type of continuous stress. Its a fun time and hopefully everyone can take it for what it is, just another experience in life that needs to be learned from. After all life is just a series of experiences.

I think that the campus has to be not only beautiful and inviting but also feel like home. It is also important to have a very inviting campus that readily makes you feel wlcomed. Schooling is probably the most important though. If faculty is not going to help you then chances are you will struggle. Bellarmine fit all of these categories and would fulfill yours as well.

As far as finding the right college, I recommend visiting multiple colleges and getting a campus tour. I would personally recommend an individual campus tour as opposed to a group tour. After visiting, i would recommend sitting down and running through the pros and cons of attending the visited college, considering questions like: Do they have my major? Does the college have financial aid and if so how much? How are the classes set up, and, if possible, would I be able to view one for a day or so? Diversity, degrees offered, and study abroad are things that one should ask about as well. Finally, one should sit down and compare the colleges that appeal the most to one's liking. That which appeals the most to one's likes will most likely be the college one should attend.

Make sure that you spend time at the school and try to get to know the faculty prior to attending the college/university. Learn the pov's on everything from students with learning disabilities, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, politics, socio-economic status, financial aid. Find out what the dorms are like from students, not the people giving you the tours (they might not tell the truth, they are getting paid to take you around.) Make sure that you are comfortable there and that you don't feel out of place. Sometimes, even the place that you've been to and have decided upon ends up not being right for you after you're there for a while, so be up to changing if you don't feel it's right. Don't just stick it out because they gave you the most money, or because they are closest/farthest from home. Find what is best for you.

Look at what you really want. Size, location, academic focus, how they can help you with what you want to do. Study hard, and reward yourself with maybe a party or something with your friends on the weekend. Sign a contract with your parents saying you won't go out on the week nights so you can focus on your homework.

Choose a college that is a size comfortable for you. Stay focused in your studies but do not close yourself from having an active social life. Always ask for help if you need it and complete homework whether it is optional or not. College is the best four years of your life so take it seriously, it is your future; however, have fun and experience all you can.

Be sure that you pick a school that your child isn't going to feel stuck at if they change their major. Pick a school with lots of good options, a faculty who is willing to work with students, etc. Also, be sure you read the fine print and plan carefully for finances. I went into this thinking I was getting a good deal with almost 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my tuition taken care of in scholarships, but the terms for keeping them can be tough, and even with more than half my tuition taken care of, I'm still going to be almost $40,000 in debt when I graduate. If I had known that, I wouldn't have picked Bellarmine, particularly since I 'm not even that interested in my field of study anymore. I went in because of their excellent education program, and I no longer want to be a teacher. However, I would be throwing away financial aid if I left now. Just pay attention to what you're getting into before you sign anything.

I think evaluating the kind of setting you or your child learn best in is very important in deciding what school to attend. If you learn better working with lots of people, a larger school might be the best choice, while some may learn better in smaller classrooms. Smaller schools are ideal, I think, because it makes it easier to get invloved on campus as well as makes it easier to get to know people.

When looking for the right college, make sure you have more than one long term goal in mind. Look for schools that have many options if you are uncertain of what your major will be, and if you have a strong focus, look for a strong school for that field. Also be sure to talk to students that are currently going to the school, this does NOT include the campus tour guide. Explore the campus on your own, talking to students sitting in the grass or in libraries. If the vibe of the campus is good, then the learning experience will be that much better. It's also a very good idea to talk to teachers, and maybe even ask them how many of their students? names they can remember. Size is certainly a personal preference, but smaller schools can often provide more feedback and allow your to grow faster and easier in life and in your accomplishments.