Michaela
Make sure you can see yourself on a particular campus. Go on a tour and ask as many questions as you can. Meet as many professors in your major as you can and ask them questions. These are the people that are going to be most important in your college career. If you don't know what you want to go into for sure ask about their help with finding a major right for you. If you are going to live on campus make sure you see the dorms and make sure you go into the BATHROOMS. This will show you the true cleanliness of the dorm. Ask about what goes on on the weekends to make sure campus is what you want on weekends. Ask about nearby facilities and activities like movie theaters, malls, grocery stores, and banks. You will definitely know when a campus is or is not righ for you after your visit. Go with your gut and have fun!
Ashley
Find a college that is in an area you know you will enjoy. If you like the outdoors find a college that has activities on campus or nearby that involves being outdoors. Also with any college try to find someone who actually goes there to give you the really facts about that school. Each school tries to sell you their school by expanding on the truth. Find out if the school really goes through all they claim to do or have available for students.
Julie
Check out the campus several times, day, night, weekends to see how it really functions. This also gives you a chance to really see the area where your child will be emersed in. Meet with advisors, see if they are helpful, and ways you can communicate with the professors and such, phone, email, ect.
Kayla
I would tell upcoming students and parents to alleviate enough time to visit each potentional university. This will allow you to revisit the universities if you are stuck between a couple. I would also advise them to sit in on a class of the students' major. This will give one a better understanding of the teaching style, class set up, and class size of the university. To ensure that the student makes the most of his or her college experience, I would recommend starting homework on the day it is assigned so that it is fresh in their mind. Considering starting is the hardest part of papers, essays, etc, it will also make it easier for the student to go back and finish up the paper since they will already have their ideas in organized. This will make the weekends a lot less stressful knowing that you will not need to do hours of homework Sunday night. I would also suggest going to the library to do homework because it is not as difficult to get off topic by watching television, getting on facebook, etc. When students do homework in their dorm room, it takes twice as long to finish.
Jeri
When choosing the right college, take not only the educational opportunities into considerationg, but also the social and personal ones. A large university can be a great experience but there is the chance that the student can get lost. Not only physciall, but mentally as well. With so much going on in and outside of the classroom, it is difficult to keep focus. Be conscious of the fact that even the best students in high school, have a hard time in college. I was this student. It is so easy to get caught up in everything going on around you, to forget about why we really come to college. To learn. So choose a university that provides the opportunity to make friends and grow as an individual. But also one that promotes the best atmosphere for learning. This is a personal choice for each student. One that only he or she can make. Being aware of all the factors that are fighting against us to succeed is the best defense we have in order to achieve our goals.
Sherry
When on a visit ask a lot of question, do not leave anything out. When visiting go to the college that feels right.
Joseph
Visit each college that you are interested in.
Ask as many questions as possible concerning the college, college life, the teaching staff, etc.
Encourage hard work and focus on grades- concidering that most will want to continue to higher education beyond undergraduate. Tell begining students to get involved, even if they don't like the activities- its neccessary for meeting people with similar interests of study and it looks good on applications and resumes as well.
Mark
A prospective student should consider a college based upon what they intend to major and minor in. Some may not know exactly what they plan to major in so they should choose a college that offers a real diverse curriculum and career opportunites program. They should take into consideration the setting, the area, the culture, the political atmosphere, the excellence of the educational staff and financial packages. Is the college a tolerant and diverse one? Do they maintain high academic standards? Do they work hard to assist the graduates in post-graduate career positions? Do they strive to go the 'extra' mile when it comes to making sure each student is served well and to succeed? Do they show a personal interest in their students? Are they understanding with struggling students and those that face extreme adversity while attending there? Are they steadfast in making sure the student gets his/her bang for her buck educationally, socially, and athletically?
Bethany
Make sure that during the selection process, you take the time to visit every college you are considering, and not only speak to the tour guides and admissions counselors, but also other students who are on campus; they will give a more accurate picture of the real experience at that college. Be sure to also take into consideration the kind of reputation the college has, especially in the field that you are planning to enter; you don't want to get stuck with a degree that isn't worth much.
When you've picked the place and made it there, to make the most of your experience make sure that you get to know your professors - they are not only good resources during your time at college, but can also be valuable in helping you to find a job. Also, remember that it takes awhile to get used to college - don't give up on a school after only a few weeks; it's possible you just haven't found your place yet. Above all, while it is important to study and remember that academics should always come first, don't be afraid to have fun and try new things!
Andrew
I would highly encourage students to learn as much as possible about the colleges that they are interested in. Ask lots of questions, it could be anything from can Freshman have cars on campus to are the Professors are hard? Campus tours are also a great way to get to know colleges. Ask if you can sit in a class that pretains to something the student wants to study. This way the student will know if they like the classroom environment that they could be in for the next four years. Another good idea is to see if you can talk with a professor, they more than anyone will be able to help the student in their focus of study. The college environment is a huge part to finding the right college. Questions to ask would be is the area around campus safe, is there campus police patroling the area, what is the alcohol policy on campus, are fraternities a major part of the campus population, are there other student organizations based in the students intrests or are they in small majority, are there church services on campus? Ask these questions to get a rounded idea of a campus.
Matthew
Pick a school that has a campus where students like to hang around instead of leaving to go other places.
Brandi
Make sure the colleges that you choose are well suited for you. Not too big or not too small. If you enjoy one on one interaction with your professors, make sure they are willing to do that with you whenever needed. To make the best of your college experience, don't fall into peer pressure. Make adequate time for studying and for friends. No matter what - school comes first. You or your parents aren't paying this money for nothing! Stay true to yourself. You don't have to drink or do drugs to fit in or to be well liked. Take it from someone that knows from person experience. :)
Andrea
Don't go to college unless you know what you're doing.
Ian
Visit the college and ask current students and professors questions about the school. The administrative staff involved with recruiting won't tell you anything important. There is going to be something wrong with every college, but you have to find what is tolerable or not.
Mark
The one thing I didnt realize when I was in highschool is that there is life afterwords. I didnt make the most of my highschool days, so I now spend most of my time in college figuring out how to study, who I am, and what I want to be. Students trying to find the right college should weight out every option. What I mean by every option is school expenses, athletics, area, class room sizes, etc. There is so much to decide on before picking a college. What a student or parent should not look at is how far away they are going to be from each other, or where their friends are going. Things like this can deprive the student of their full college experience, or full potential.
Melissa
If you don't know what you want yet, just try things out. Figure out which classes you don't fall asleep in, and take more on the subject. I transferred schools, changed my major almost every semester, and took a wide variety of classes, but finally found what I wanted. Don't freak out if you're unsure; most of your classmates are too. My mother was 39 when she finally figured out what career to pursue! Talk to your professors. They're much more human than you think, and it shows that you care about your grades (which helps come finals). Make sure you establish good study skills early in your college career, the core classes usually require the most "busy work" so it's important to manage your time wisely. Letting grades slip in the early years will make it extremely hard to bring them up later. Most importantly though, have fun! You'll never forget the people you meet and the times you'll have with them. Just remember, when your kids ask about your college experience, make sure your stories won't traumatize them..
Melria
I would advised the students to really think about what they want to get out of their college career. The parents i advised them to stay involve with their son or daughters school life. Just because you child has moved on to college does not mean you should stay out of their lives. A little parent gudiance and advise is needed sometimes to get through so tough situations. Also, keep a good look out for scholarships and grants, loans are good but its money you have to pay back. Also check and see if the school offers free tutoring for students, and if smaller classrooms are available for those who want to feel more comfortable. Students try and get fully involved with different activities on and off campus, you'll make alot of new friends and will feel less afraid beingin a new environment. Balance your study and lesiure time well. Also get in to the habit of having a planner with you beacause you want to stay organized and ready for everything that you have commited yourself to with its homework or volunteer work. Students can also look in to having a campus job, very convient to have one.
Elizabeth
I think that is important to look at the cost, colleges makes it sound like there are all these options and aid floating around for you but it is really not like that. I really encourage parents to get involved in campus life and activites as well. Sometimes being away from home can be really overwhelming, so it is always nice to get a care package or come and watch the a football game with the students. I really would encourage students freshman year, for sure to try and go to as many campus activites as possible. There is always something going on around any campus, you just have to be willing to try new things. I think the best advice I can give to a student or parent trying to find that right school is, school should feel like home away from home, you should always feel welcome and free to be you, I found that at Capital
Kristina
Choosing the right college is a big step. You want to make sure you fit in and enjoy your school because transferring schools can be a difficult process and. For me, Capital was the perfect fit because it was small yet still close enough to a big city (and my hometown). I didn't know anybody from my school going to Capital so it was a great way for me to meet new people and continue growing as a person. I got involved right away by joining my preferred political group, the dance team, Circle K, extra-curricular groups affiliated with my major, and finally a sorority. I met so many new people and felt very comfortable walking around campus. The teachers are wonderful and really take time to interact with the students. Visit any college you are interested in and take time to scope out the campus. Talk to students at those colleges and ask them what THEY like most and least about the schools in order to make your decision. Don't let the cost scare you. Many young kids are in debt after college graduation. Just work hard in school and you will obtain a successful job.
Ryan
Make sure it's your childrens decision and that they're not influenced by their elder family members and where they would want them to go