Cairn University-Langhorne Top Questions

I transfered into Philadelphia Biblical University after my Sophmore year of being at a college that just was not for me. I believe that the best thing you could ever do while in the application process, is to spend time visiting each campus; both with and without mom and dad. It is important for your parents to be a large part of the process, but if you really desire to know what campus life is like behind closed doors, a day trip will not help much. Sometimes colleges have their visit programs so well tuned that they portray something that campus life is not. Take your time making a decision, be discerning and wise every step of the way; and most of all, do not let anyone pressure you into something that does not seem right. Be anxious, but fear nothing; before you know it youll be walking down another graduation aisle, with friends that will most likely be with you for the rest of your life. Take a deep breath...breathe, and enjoy this, perspective is everything!

Look for what the college has to offer aside from the academics. Your child will have to live there and the people they meet will have an enormous influence on their lives. Visit the school and meet some students and have conversations with them. Chances are your child will end very similar to them and their beliefs after being there for 4 years. Find out what is the mission statement of the school. What are they all about? What is their goal and have they met those goals? Also when you visit the campus, go to the cafeteria and find out what your child will be eating for the next 4 years.

Find the college where, when you step onto campus, you know that you are at home. I know it sounds cliche, and seems like an impossibility, but you will know where you are supposed to be. Do not allow location or financial aid to be the only deciding factors in your college selection process. When I compared the demographics of several prospective insititutions, I never expected I would enroll where I am today. Years later, I love it here. I have been home since the moment I stepped onto campus and the things that I have learned inside and outside of the classroom have stretched me beyond words. I have unleashed my true leadership potential. Do not settle for a place where you could fit in; choose wisely, and choose where you belong. You are home.

Be sure of who you are and what you want. Be prepared to be shaken in how you see yourself. Surround yourself in an environment, area, and campus that will meet your needs should you reach an ultimate low. College is the time when you start out ready to show the world who you are and then learn slowly who the world sees as you. It is an experience worthwhile, and one you can never be fully prepared for, do it anyways.

Change. It is not an easy thing to figure out. For me there has been a lot of adjustments as I leave home and begin making decisions indepent of my parents. The key to this adjustment has definitely been being able to keep in communication with my family, seeking their advice and insight AND looking at the information shared with me by classmates and faculty as well. Finding the right balance between evaluating all the available options and making final decisions comes as you become comfortable with the whole concept of stepping out into the bigger world of college life. Take your time instead of stressing out over all your available choices. Looking carefully at the types of people you will be spending your time with, the learning environment you put yourself in will be as critical for you as your actual zeal in study. Be prepared to take the academic side of life seriously but without growth in all areas of life you will find yourself lacking at the end of your college experience! Wise choices will become important very early in your time at school so make an effort to practice self-discipline right away!

Don't stress out about the "mess" of applying and trying to figure out what is "right" for you. You can always get out. If you don't know what you want to do, GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE; don't waste your money on a big university on gen ed courses that you can get for half the price at a cc(and get better grades in them anyway). Don't be afraid to wait to go to school 'cause many students come to college when they aren't ready or mature enough yet, hence the drinking binge parties, drug issues, and depression.

It is important to ask yourself the question "what do I enjoy doing and what is my overall goal". When you answer that question you can then concentrate on finding a school that can adaquatly equip you with the right tools for success. To get the most out of your college experience I would suggest avoiding such distractions as tv, video games, and movies. Instead focus your goals and the people around you. Become independant, learn about people, learn about yourself, learn to think critically, and never stop learning. Question everything.

The first thing I would advise to parents and students about finding the right college is before looking for a college, that is right for you, is to know what you want out of a college. Since all colleges is trying to tell you that they are the right college for you. Know where you want to go to attend college at. After looking at all the possible colleges for you that you are interested in go visit the colleges during their school year and get all the information you can about the college. So you know totally what you are getting in to. To make the most out of the college experience is to get to know everyone as much as possible. For you can build relationships that can last a long time. Also, getting to know people, especially older than you and in your own major, for they can help you succeed. Look at all your courses as a journey, not just a requirement to get your degree. You want to look back at college saying how much you learned and the memories you made.

College is all about learning. Before coming to college, ask yourself one simple question: am I ready to learn? Before you can learn you need to ask yourself what does it mean to learn, or rather, how does one actually learn. Education, in its very essence, is not bare memorization and a false sense of understanding. Education, rather, is admitting one's own mistaken presuppositions and attempting to understand any truth that one is currently lacking. When I first came to college I was not ready to be challenged; after all, who likes to have their moral convictions and beliefs challenged by peers and professors? Now, as I work on my junior year of college, I look forward to being education because it means I am removing myself from falsehoods in search of a higher truth. I personally recommend finding a college that will be somewhat challenging: academically, relationally, or even spiritually. After four years you will leave with much more than barely memorized facts and stronger arguments for potentially false views with which you entered into college.

When looking for a college choose a place you and your parents feel comfortable with attending. make certain a night is spent at the college before choosing to live there. there are many surpises you will find at a college, but it is a lot easier when you have spent a little time there with people to have an early heads up. Also a college with a few different majors you are interested in, is always a plus. Many students change majors in their college career, and staying at the same college makes everything much easier. So start early with your applications, save a few bucks with early acceptance, and find a place which fits you best!