Bryn Mawr College Top Questions

even if there are drawbacks choose the school that fulfills the element that is most important to your happiness (i.e. if you will be miserable without a substantial social life, choose a school that has a better social life than academic reputation or if you will be unhappy without a degree from a school with a substantial academic reputation, choose a school that holds academics above social satisfaction, etc.)

I would absolutely advise parents to let their child engage actively in the search process. Pushing your student is going to do nothing except make them feel pressured to seriously consider schools that they may not want to attend, either to please their parent or to spite them. Allow the student to seriously consider those programs and future careers that are of interest to them; whether a parent approves or disapproves of a student's academic and life choices will not matter once that student is at an institution. There is always a chance that the student will become interested in something else, as so often occurs, or that their interests during the college search process ring true and they find themselves in a promising academic program or career in a discipline that they care about.

Find a school that is socially comfortable for you. You can be an English or Chemistry major anywhere. Grad school is when that becomes most important. For your undergraduate career find somewhere where you know you will make friends and has clubs that appeal to you. A large part of you education is not just in the class room when you're an undergrad.

The most important aspect of the college search is visiting the campus and getting a feel for the campus's environment; a school could look great on paper, but when you visit it, it just does not feel right for you. To make the most of the college experience always be open to new things, whether it's a class in a department that is totally different from your major or a club or activity that you have never tried before, or something else. You never know you just might find a new passion.

Choose the place that feels right to you. I must have taken classes regularly at 4 different colleges throughout my undergrad experience, I saw how each college brought out some parts of me and hid others. In the grand scheme of things, going to the "right" college is not that important, but it does affect how you will change. Although I would have been equally well-educated at any of the four college I attended (UPenn, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Haverford) my personality and character would have been different. This is something to take into consideration. Are these students the kind of person I aspire to be? As for making the most of the college experience...just remember that it is YOUR experience, and you always, always have options. Very few things are set in stone. If you are unhappy with something, as long as you can figure out what you want, you will be able to find a way to get it. Be positive and open and brave, and never give up. And never forget to have fun. "It's only life, afterall. "

Research and VISIT your top 5 colleges! Planning is key- go when students will be there. Walk around campus after the tour to get a feel for the place. Ask yourself, "Is this the environment for me? Do I fit in with a lot of the people here? Does this feel right?" Many times it takes a while to sink in whether a place is right or not. Give yourself time and don't forget to give an interview! An interview can be the one thing that tips the balance in your favor.

make sure to have an overnight first to garner the true campus experience befor choosing a school it helps you gain a real feel of the social aspects of campus you cant excel as aperson unless your happy with who you are and your surroundings/friends

It's important to find a college where you just feel inherently comfortable. A great education is important, but there are many different schools at which one can learn and accomplish great things. But the part of college that will really make the difference is how you feel about your school, and how you feel about yourself while you're there. If you are constantly worried, upset by your peers, your social situation, or anything else, however small it may be, it will distract you from making the most of your academic and cultural education. so when looking at colleges, it's most important to feel comfortable and have the things that are important to you. The college experience itself is up to you. As the student you are no longer held by the tight standards and requirements you had in high school. Feel free to build your own schedule, take the classes that interest you, get as involved as you want with your activities, and take ownership of your time. College is a wonderful experience, and one that teaches lessons both inside and outside of the classroom, but you have to make it your own.

Visit the schools you are applying to! You will never know if a school is right for you if you just base your decisions on what you read in books. The moment you step onto a campus you will feel whether or not it is the right place for you--no article or rating can give you that sense of belonging that you may find at a school you never expected to like. So visit a lot of schools! You need to visit way more schools than you're interesting in applying to because you need to figure out what you like. You need to figure out how it feels to be on a campus you DON'T like as well as how it feels to be on one in which you fit perfectly. Taking the time to visit as many schools as possible is the most important part of the application process that I can think of, remember: no matter what Princeton Review or CollegeBoard or Campus Discovery tells you about a college, YOU are the one who has to be there for four years. YOU need to find the right fit.

find somewhere you'll be happy

I would like them to know that which college they choose is not the most important thing. A lot of student's satisfaction with their college experience rests on luck (Do they like their roomate/the people on their hall, is their dorm well located, do they like their professors?) and what students make of it (any college can be boring and lonely if one doesn't get involved and interesting if one searches out new friends and things to do).

The college finding quizzes struck me as unhelpful, but one college kept popping up. I begrudingly travelled to tour it, but as soon as I set foot on campus, I knew I was home. It is difficult to narrow down your choices and figure out what you want, when you have never experienced college before. The important thing is to keep an open mind. Once you come up with a list, visiting the campus is the most important thing. Ask yourself if you can really picture living there for four years, and answer honestly. No one ever said they wished they had studied more in college. Having fun and developing solid friendships is key in your first year. It will get you through the next three (or four). That does not mean, however, that you should ignore your work. You are there to learn and when you find something you love to study, it will fulfill you in ways you did not think were possible.

The most important thing to remember about college, to really get the most out of those tuition dollars, is that you are there for the betterment of yourself. For probably the first time in your life, it's completely up to you what you do with your time. The Internet, friends, alcohol, and drama are all great forms of procrastination, but you really don't need to shell out more than a few thousand dollars a semester to find those diversions. Learning, too, can occur outside the classroom, but the kind of learning that goes on in the hallowed halls of higher education isn't readily inferred from life experience; hence the academic sphere. So be sure you're where you want to be, and if you're not, remember that this is also this first time in your life you can actually change how your education progresses. Investigate shared courses, participate in campus extracurriculars, change the community around you for the better. Being about yourself also means considering the environment around you. College is about making yourself and making your community what you want them to be.

Going to a liberal arts college is a great experience, but it's not for everyone. When you're in high school, job prospects are far from your mind, but once you are finished you will wish you had gone somewhere that had a better job placement program.

Find a school where you will get a good education. I can't tell you how much I value the education I got at Bryn Mawr now that I'm in graduate school. I learned so much about research, writing, and thinking critically and it has put me far above my peers. No matter where you go, you will make great friends and you will enjoy the campus activities you choose to participate in. But you can't get a good education where you get to know your professors personally, engage in the research process, and think critically in every class just anywhere. I loved Bryn Mawr for many reasons, but sports, clubs, friends, and social activities were things I would have enjoyed at any college. So find a college where you will learn everything you can and get the most out of your education.

Really take the time to visit each place thoroughly and try to act as if you were a student there as best as possible

Visit as many as possible to find one that would fit well for you.

Do not choose a college based on one aspect, your interests may change, that college will not. KNOW YOURSELF. Choose a college with many offerings that interest you now. Choose a college with many offerings that don't interest you now (because they will later.) UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GROW. Think ahead. Where will your interests take you? What school will best develop these interests into a variety of options for your future? YOUR HAPPINESS WILL NOT DEPEND ON YOUR COLLEGE'S NATIONAL RANKING. Make your decison for yourself. College is about learning how to be self directed- now is a good time to start practicing. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. Your college will offer an abundance of offices, programs and staff dedicated to aiding your college experience- USE THEM. You are dynamic- PROVE IT. Get involved. Develop positive relationships with professors. The "Real World" is quickly approaching. Do not hide from it. EMBRACE IT. Search job postings for a better outlook on what lies ahead. Fatten up that resume. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, LIVE IN THE PRESENT. Make friends. Study. Party. Eat well. Sleep well. Take responsibility for your actions. Get excited. Get focused. Relax. ACHIEVE BALANCE.

Finding a college that fits is a very stressful experience, but no matter what you will find one that you will love and get an amazing education from. It always works out and it is worth all of the work that goes into getting there.

Before you start the application process, make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Then brainstorm things that schools could have that would overcome your weaknesses, and play to your strenghts. If you're naturally shy and had trouble making friends, you want a school with a strong sense of community, a good freshman orientation program, extracurricular activities that you are interested in, and lots of activities on-campus so that you don't have to do the legwork to find people to be friends with. If you're really independent and motivated and enjoy going beyond coursework, you want a school where undergraduates have opportunities to do research and work closely with faculty. Know yourself before you start looking at schools - whether big cities make you anxious, whether small towns make you claustrophobic, whether you are fine flying home twice a year or if you need to be within a 2 hour drive. When you know what you're looking for in a school, you'll be able to tell whether the places you're considering will be a good fit for you!