Bryn Mawr College Top Questions

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!