Bowdoin College Top Questions

You will get into colleges that are a better match for you. The admissions people seem to actually know their stuff, and will weed out people they think won't like the school. I never though of it that way until college, but it's definitely true.

Many prospective college students and their parents approach the college search process in the wrong way. They believe that there is only one "perfect" school for them, they worry more about reputation than fit, and they allow the opinons of those around them to greatly influence their college choice. Choosing a college should be about finding a school that FEELS right, not one that sounds right. Stay overnight with a student you have never met before, and, as you meet their friends and dorm-mates, ask yourself if you could be friends with these people. Because in all honesty, your college experience and future identity are influenced 100 times more by the people you meet and spend time with than the academics you pursue.

Whatever you do, do not choose a school solely on its prestiege. Pick the school that you feel the most comfortable at. Visit the schools you are thinking about. Spend a night at the school and if possible try not to set up the overnight with the admissions office because they will set you up with someone who they feel is a great person and is trained in what to tell you. Stay instead with a someone you know will tell you the dirty little secrets of the school. If you are going for a sport, be sure to go to a practice and meet more of the team than just the model student-athleets that the coach wants you to meet. In general dig under the display the admissions office is putting on, and ask the questions that they dont want to answer.

Finding the right college is hard, but you have to go with your first instinct. Visit every school you apply to and dont attend one merely because you like its basketball team, or it has a prestegious name. Stay overnight in the dorms, visit the campus, and attend some school year events and classes. I think the most important thing to do is to make sure you communicate with current students, the admissions office will sugar-coat everything, but the students have nothing to lose! It is also important to join clubs and teams as a first year student once you have been enrolled. the more you put yourself out there the more friends you will make and opportunites you willl find.

I would tell them to visit the college and, if possible, stay for a day or two. The surrounding area of the college can take some getting used to, but if you dismiss a place on its initial appearance or judge it from the start, then you may skip over a place that you would have enjoyed. I came from a conservative family and a high school of jocks, and landed in an extremely liberal campus where academics are the main focus. This happened mainly because I decided to stay at the school with people I knew and get a good feel of how I would fit in. It turns out that I have made my best friends here and would never change my decision. Each individual is different, so I would encourage parents to have as little say in the college decision as possible. My parents helped me to research colleges and brought me anywhere that I showed a significant amount of interest in. Other than that, I made the decision on my own and I couldn't be happier.

In the end, it is not the college, but rather, the student, that makes the experience successful. Difficult as it is, it is important to put aside the name of the school, and the GPA/SAT scores of its students. Instead, try to think about what is really the best match for you. A school can have a fantastic reputation, but this doesn't mean it will be the best fit for every student. In the end, a person will be successful if he/she feels connected to the college and its community. Further, regardless of whether or not a student is enrolling in his/her first choice school, or a "safety school," it is absolutely crucial to go in with a good attitude. The student's first year, and even the first few weeks, can make a big impact on the overall experience. Even if you feel that the "college process" has treated you unfairly, once the time comes to enroll, try to put the past aside and take charge of your college experience. It's up to you, and every single college and university can provide a top-notch educational and social experience if you seek it out.

Make sure to visit every school and apply to enough "safeties." Give yourself as many options (size, atmosphere, etc.) as possible, as you may find what you thought you liked at the beginning of senior is not at all what you'll like, come acceptance time.