Christopher Newport University Top Questions

When considering your college options, consider the big picture of "you." Just like you are not only a "student" but also a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a friend -- a unique individual with hobbies, hopes, and dreams -- the schools you are looking into are not just factories for degrees. You will probably spend the next few years of your life in the school you choose, so it's crucial you find one that will nurture and challenge each part of your identity equally. Make sure you find a good fit for your academic ambitions, but also do the best you can to get to know your potential college's personality. Research its clubs and organizations, its student body, and its interaction with the local community. If you can, visit the campus and see what your instincts tell you -- meeting some of the current faculty and students will really help with this. Ultimately, make sure that you don't turn down the perfect school for you because there is another school that is "perfect" for someone else... when you graduate, it just might turn out that the lessons you learned outside of class were the most important.

Go to the school and spend some time there. I know at Christopher Newport University the second you step on campus, you either love it and say this is the place i want to be (more often then not) or you say this is not for me. It helps knowing or having a good idea of what major you are looking at also- otherwise you might get a little behind. Don't let college fool you- classes are much harder then highschool. Also, look at class size and where your child can see themselves based on how they grew up and what they are use to.

Find a campus that cultivates your imagination and inspires you to not only reach you dreams but also help others reach theirs should be number one on your list. Prospective students should not get lost in the search for pretty dorms and good food but rather should focus on finding a place that will nurture him or her as an individual. Find a school that will provide you with the tools you need to achieve your goal. Look for dedicated professors, small class sizes, a school that has a strong sense of community among students, the provision of both academic and social assistance, the availability of internships and jobs in your field and most of all attend a school that is focused on community service. Community service is important because is shapes your intergrety and helps you to discover yourself. Never attend a school that see you solely as a number becuase after you gradutate no one will care about your GPA or your class standing. However, they will care about what you did to give back. Therefore, find a school that?s cultivates well rounded students who are dedicated to giving back and reaching for their dreams.

I definitley feel that choosing a college is an important decision for both the studnet and the parent(s). When choosing a college it is important to choose one where you feel the most comfortable and at home. The student needs to decided whther they feel they could do better in a small or large enviroment. I feel that this factor is vital and can be one of the most important determining factors. When looking at college also look at the other activities they have available and try to find at least one that you would enjoy being a part of. When in college it is important to try your hardest and work to your highest potentnial. Always stay determined and focused on academics but also have a social life. It is important to find a balance between the two. It is also important to develop friendships that will encourage and support you along the way.

Have some idea of what you want to do before you begin the application process. More importantlly, actually look at and visit different campuses. Don't just settle for one school because it's cheap, or because it's close to your home. Have an idea of what you want to do with your life and find a school that has the programs which will point you in that direction. A liberal arts school is not the best place for a science student, and vice versa. You can get a general education at any college, but find the one that has the specific program you're interested in and apply there. And make sure to have a backup, just in case you don't get accepted to your first choice. Again, don't settle on a backup school. Make sure it is one that you would actually want to go to, with the same (or similar) programs as your first choice. If you do this when looking for a college, I guarantee you will get the most out of your college experience.

Choosing the appropriate college near the end of your senior year or after the excitement of high school graduation may unfortunately be further away from the top of your list of things to do than it really should be. If I was to help anyone out in this process, my first words would be that this is an extremely pivotal time in your life, and your abilities to focus, reorganize your goals and dreams, and to seek out help will be more important than ever. Also, chances are, you don't know what you want to do in the future, so some specific advice would be to choose a college that leaves your options open while remaining affordable. Post acceptance to college of choice, the last thing you want to do is get addicted to something like gambling, drugs, or say a new boyfriend/girlfriend; I have personally seen these things take people down the wrong path. Stay on the right path by talking to as many people as possible: your counselor, professors, academic advisor, careers office, parents, and colleagues. Lastly, never feel anxious to ask a new question. Even if you are completely lost, the professor needs to know.

I think it is very important for students/parents to visit colleges during big events such as sports and during days when classes are in session and nothing particularly out of the ordinary is occuring. These two contrasting situations will really help students/parents decide if the school's environment is right. If a student does not feel like an integral part of the community or dislikes the daily occurances, he or she is less likely to succeed and get involved.

To look at the school that you think you will be attending, make sure it feels like a good fit, the size of the university, the size of the classrooms, the quality of the livin situations and the atmospher of the campus. just make sure that it feels like a good fit, talk to the students who attend school and ask them about their college experience .

Visit the schools you are looking at! That is the only way you will know if it is the right it for you.

Get excited about college! Many of my friends weren't very enthusiastic about going to college or picking the right college. My family was a big help in getting information for school, but if I wasn't nearly as excited as I was about college, I would never have found the right one. When considering if a college is a good fit for you socially, get to know the area around the school, as that will shed some light on what the nightlife will be like at school. Size is another huge factor. Its hard to be happy at a school that is too big or too small for you, because you'll be thinking: "If only this school were bigger/smaller..." To make the most of the college experience, you need to be open to everyone and everything. To be the best person you can be, you should spend your first year (if not the whole four years) trying out different clubs, courses, and social groups. The best advice I can give to both these questions is you just have to take a chance at some point, because you'll never know what you'll like until you try.