Bethel University-Saint Paul Top Questions

Before you choose a college, make sure you visit the college first and get a "feel" for it. Just because a college offers the major you want does not mean it is the right college for you. Unless you can be happy living at a particular campus, the academic part of college will not be that important.

Make sure to choose the college that makes you feel the moxt comfortable.

Choosing a college is relative so pick the one that is right for you! Put yourself out there, but give yourself grce at first - it takes time to adjust! Don't party all the time, it takes out all the great memories you will make. Have fun, but make good choices!

Expect to make college great for yourself and don't just assume that a great school will give you a great expereience. If you're a social butterfly, you'll make friends no matter where you go to school. And if you're smart and hardworking, you'll probably find a job after you graduate, regardless of where you graduate from. Evaluate a school's US News ranking, absolutely! Consider a college that all your friends and family went to and loved, sure. But ultimately, you need to visit the college and ask yourself, "Could I see myself here for four years?" And don't let money be your sole deciding factor. You'll have time to pay off your student loans later. But no one can loan you four years if you don't enjoy your college experience.

Get your name out there and look early. Don't be afraid to be picky. You're paying good money for your education, so take the initiative to find exactly what you're looking for.

Knowledge is power, right? Secondary education should be about broading our horizons. It should be about developing our worldviews and shaping our identity. When looking for a liberal arts education is important to look for a school that is committed to and is practicing diversity. There is much about our world that we cannot fully understand until we start to see it through lenses of other cultures. Allowing individuals to experience people with different views, different life experiences and even different values than their own prepares them for the real world. College is about learning, or at least it should be. Having professors of color and friends who have different political views than ourselves, challenges us to do some inward examinations. It helps students to develop a sense of identity in the world and hopefully, help individuals find what they are passionate about. In order to make changes in the world we need people who are passionate and willing to work for change. For too long people in our nation have isolated themselves only to experience people who look and think like themselves. It is important for us to understand the complexities of humanity. This can only come through diversity.

Make sure to visit each college enough to get a feel for whether it is the right place or not.

When the time comes to choose a college, prospective students and parents can often feel overwhelmed by the many factors that influence their decision. So how does one distinguish "the right school" from countless options? During those life-defining years of college, students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly develop their character as young adults in areas such as responsibility, independence, ethics and problem-solving. It is crucial to carefully consider which of the potential institutions will offer a well-rounded experience to best prepare the student for life as a adult in all aspects, not only career-wise. Institutions that emphasize and encourage character development and overall growth, in addition to career preparation, should be considered over those that only focus on the latter. In order to best evaluate such criteria, parents and students should make it a priority to VISIT the campus to get a better feel, ASK current students/alumni about their personal experiences, and ultimately attempt to evauate the primary concerns of an institution...what do they value? After all, the primary objective of college isn't simply earning a degree, but rather preparing students for the paths of adulthood that lie ahead.

As a prospective college student, I had quite a bit of difficulty knowing how to choose a school. Looking back on that time, I would suggest that students and parents make a list of things they are looking for in a school/education and then prioritize those things. This list could clarify a student's decision-making process to the parent(s) or vice versa. Perhaps if a person finds that they do not feel particularly compelled to choose a course of study or school, he or she might consider taking a semester to study abroad, volunteer, or work in a field of interest.

Visit the college, and talk to the students. It is really important to get an idea of what the community is like.

Beginning the "big hunt" at the beginning of your senior year of high school isn't sufficient. Take your ACT's and SAT's early. Take them each twice. Look at schools- go to college fairs, check out websites, ask older friends. Do interest inventories. Beginning in the spring of junior year, or at latest, the fall of senior year, take the time to visit your top choices. Stay overnight, eat in the dining center. Don't go on a visit weekend- they're pretty abnormal. When you choose a school, get excited! Plan to get involved on campus. Talk to those peppy student workers who call you on the phone to answer your questions. Spend the summer preparing yourself mentally for the newness of school. Call your new roommate and dream about the coming year! Pack no earlier than a week before, but don't wait until the night before! Once you move in, get to know your roommate. Befriend your RA. Get involved in a club. Go to sporting events. Get off campus. Stay up late. Have deep conversations with people. Go see your professors during office hours. Call your parents. Don't worry, you'll love college.

When you are on a campus tour or visit, they will always try to talk up the school, and make it seem like it is the best place in the world. In reality, it will have its faults just like everything else, so don't go in thinking everything is going to be perfect.

The most important thing when choosing a college is to pick the one you like best and the one that suits your personality and interests. Do not be overconcerned with cost or location. If you or your child is where they are supposed to be, those things will have a way of working themselves out.

1.) Visit the school before you commit to go there. 2.) Ask a student that attends the school (not you're tour guide) what they enjoy about the school and what they dislike about the school. 3.) Make sure the school offers the classes and extracurriculars that you are interested in. 4.) Before commiting to a school, make sure you are comfortable with the school's rules, class size, cost, ect.

This will be quick and simple. I'm not here to dazzle you with words but to give clear concise advice. First of all, deciding on a college is not easy, but in reality as long as the university or college is rather well known, you'll most likely be receiving just as good an education as the next one. I personally think that it is important to pick a school based on the people which attend it or the culture that surrounds it. Some schools are know for their academics while others are known for their community, and sadly some are known for partying. I think it is important to visit a school and while there meet some of the students and some of the professors to get a feel for what the school is like. In the end, a degree is a degree, but the relationships built at college are what really is important, so pick a school where you feel you can relate to other students and faculty.

Get involved.

When considering a college to attend always make sure you know what you want to do before you invest heinous amounts of money. College is one of the most important investments you can ever make. With every investment comes hours of research. Without proper research you will find yourself stuck paying outrageous amounts of money at an institution you don?t like, with people who don?t care, and sports teams that don't win. Proper research will allow you to get a comfortable feel for what a school is like and how it complies with your own thoughts and desires. It will also give you fantastic study habits for the year to come, because you will be training yourself for research that you will potentially have to do on a project or paper. Additionally, how you view your surroundings dictate how motivated you will be towards doing well in school which could promote or inhibit both academic and social success. Those who are most successful in our society are those who investigate and know their surroundings so that they can use them towards their advantage. Research where your want to go, and know exactly what you?re getting into.

I would say it is definitely crucial to actually sit in on a class taking place and talk to some of the professors at the universities and colleges that are being considered. The tours for visiting students are always really informative but you will not be able to really get the feel for the kind of school environment that is offered unless you put yourself in the middle of the student body. If the schools have a time when you can stay overnight and go to class with another student, I would definitely say it is a good idea. I didn't do all of these things but I know, looking back, my final decision would have been for certain if I had know these things about the schools I was considering. Also, it is important to remember that, if it really seems like the school you chose is not a good fit, it is possible to transfer. It seems like a big, huge deal but, it is better to do that than waste 4 years of your life at a school you don't feel right at.

Come to this school wanting more and you will love it.

Look for a place that fits your major, religous views etc. Visit the campus the right one will probably give you that "feeling" this is the place. Pray before looking, while looking, after looking and your steps will be guided