Carleton College Top Questions

Go with your gut.

Choose somewhere that you feel you will be happy and comfortable, not somewhere you think you should go because of prestige or numbers. You may get in to a lot of good schools, but you can't succeed if you're stressed about things besides academics. College is a social contract at best, a waste of money at worst, so the vast majority of your experience is really up to you.

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dont go to a big school. your experience will not be complete. you will flock to groups of friends you already have and you wont meet new people

Choose for you and noone else

Study AND be involved in extra-curriculars. Ask for help from your profs and tutors. Befriend upperclassmen -- they're smart.

When it comes to choosing a college it is thoroughly research and visit the school , but it ultimately comes down to one question: Could I see myself attending and succeeding at this school for 4 years? If the answer is yes, you may have found your home away from home.

visit the school before you decide to go there, ask the students heir favorite and least favorite thing about he school (make sure you ask a student who is not your tour guide) rmember that the whole college application processes is a crap shoot. just try to be happy wherever you end up

Truthfully and honestly allow your son/daughter to make the decision for themself. Do not pressure them towards one school over the other. Aslo choose a school that offers a great financial aid package. Also, choose a school were there is a balance between work and personal time, because if there is not one, it can cause a lot of stress and in some cases there has been reports of depression and suicide.

Personally, I feel the most important thing that you can do when trying to decide which college to attend is to visit the campus. Sure, you can read all the nice words the college says about itself, but nothing is better than going to the campus, looking around, and talking to the students. Asking them what they like and dislike about the school is a great way to get information. As for getting the most out of your college experience, I would suggest one thing--don't take it too seriously. Yes, taking college seriously is important. Being at college is a huge responsibility, especially if you're not the one paying the bill. But it's also important to lighten up a little, to have fun, to enjoy new experiences with your peers. That's what college is really about--not just academic learning, but social learning as well. You may think you know yourself, but really college is just the beginning of self-discovery.

Initially, I would advise that neither parent nor student allows it to cause too much stress. It's an imporant decision, but it's not always permanant. And it's a time for learning and growing, even if it's not perfect. It's a life experience no matter which way it goes, and no one can deny that. However, you need to figure out what is really important to you. If you love music, but you go to a school that has a sub-par department, it's going to affect you negatively, despite the other endearing aspects the school might have. And while academics are important, they're not the only part of the school, or the only part of your life. College is a whole world outside of classes. Take advantage of the other opportunities the school offers, whether it be a study abroad program or a student run group. College is one of the few times in life that you have an entire community at your fingertips. Get involved now, so you learn what you might want to do later, when it actually requires a lot more effort to get involved.

Most colleges will offer you a good education and you can always find friends wherever you are. Don't worry; no matter where you end up you'll do fine.

You really have to visit the college in order to decide. My friends and I all agree, you'll know what college is right for you after you visit them because you just get this feeling. It's hard to describe, but it just feels like you fit in there, like if you looked around the campus you could see yourself in a year or two walking on those sidewalks and going to class or eating at that dining hall. So I guess I'd say it's all about that special feeling.

Go to college where you want to go. Not where someone else tells you to go. Not where Newsweek recommends it is best to go. Simply where you want to go. Go where you feel comfortable with the students. Go where you feel excited about the professors. And remember, there are no wrong choices. College is one of the best stages of your life, no matter what school you attend. So enjoy it!

Well first, I'll say all the things that everyone says, because in some sense they're important. Are you looking for a big school or small school, a school with a well-known name, or bigwig professors in the field? Are you looking for a school in the city or out on the farm, or somewhere in between? Do you want to go to school because of sports, a career, or a liberal education. These decisions are all important, and I think should definitely influence where you apply and what offers you wish to seriously consider. Making that final decision and choosing which school to attend, however, is entirely different. When making that decision, it all comes down to feel. Do I see myself going to school here? Do I feel like I can succeed? Can I be everything that I want to be at this school? These are the types of questions you have to ask yourself, and ultimately only you can answer them. It's not about anyone else. It's about you. So my final advice for students debating what school to attend is this: visit your options, and go with your gut. It never lies.

Don't pick a school because of its name. Pick it because it feels right. Because you like the students you encountered, or there is a nice cozy spot in the library you can imagine spending hours in studying, or the professor you talked to was engaging and knew the student body well. Pick a college whose character you love; pick one that has a quirk you noticed that is absolutely you; pick a college where you'll feel comfortable as you, not as the person you want to make yourself out to be. When you've found that place, go into it with an open mind. The admissions brochures and your campus visit might not be indicative of your own college experience. So be flexible. If you play violin and your roommate plays rugby, don't run to res life complaining of irreconcilable differences. Seize the opportunity to learn about something new. If you haven't landed in a great circle of friends by week two, don't panic! You'll meet other people in other activities and classes, and the people you already "know" may turn out to be more interesting than you initially thought.