Christopher Newport University Top Questions

To find the right college the student and parent need to really look into all the options offered by the school, the size of the school, the location, and the atmosphere you feel on campus. When visiting the school try and engage in the school as much as possible. Go on a tour, go to the dining hall, look at the dorms, talk to people. Don't rush! You will not know what a campus is like in just a couple hours. To make the most of your college experience, don't be negative. Go into your new college experience with a positive attitude because you are starting a new chapter in your life. Get to know your surroundings, including your roommates, hallmates, professors, and classmates. The more people you develop a relationship with on campus, the more comfortable you will feel at school. Once you are comfortable, get involved. Go to the club fair and join clubs that interest you. Try and get involved with other activities on campus that are provided, such as student government, fraternities/sororites, and recerational activities. Lastly, study hard and don't get behind in your school work and life should be great!

Before choosing what college you want to attend, decide how far you want to be from home. I chose my school because it was far enough away to be a change in scenery, but I could also go home on the weekends if I was homesick. Figure out if you want a small/big classes/campus setting. Dorm life can be tough, so make sure you like where you will be living. If you like sports, make sure they have what you enjoy at your school (where I went didn't have a pool or swim team and not only did that make me miserable, but I also gained weight from lack of exercise!) GET A PART TIME JOB when you get to school. Not only will it give you a little extra spending money, but it will help you manage your free time a whole lot better. Buy your textbooks off of Half.com or Amazon. It literally saves you hundreds of dollars. Have fun while you are in school, but remember that your first priority is to get your degree and pursue your career.

My advice to students going into college would be to actively engage in conversation with as many faculty members and current students as possible. Even if it is only through email. The faculty members are going to be the best judges of what the actual classes and curriculum will be like. The students will be able to give you the best idea of what life will be like for them outside of the classroom. Once a student is at college, the best way to get the most education for your money is to form relationships with their teachers. Often, then can be of great help once a student nears graduation. They can be a great help when it comes to looking for jobs, interships, and graduate schools. They will also be able to give professional advice and write great recommendation letters that will give the student the edge that they need.

Make sure that you are picking a college where you can know your professors, and get undergraduate research. Another hinging point is to look at their career counseling center and see what services they offer and how approachable they are. If you are looking for a science based major, watch out for the liberal learning schools that focus a great deal on general education classes and dont offer a lot of specialization for your major. First pick the feild of study that you wish to persue, then look for colleges that offer undergrad research and internships in that feild, and make sure you investigate their graduate programs. The most frustrating thing is to not know whether or not your degree will be offered in the next 50 years at your school, so look at their funding and accredidation for you intended major as well.

Spend a day during the school year at the schools you are interested in. Make sure you try every kind of food you can that they offer b/c mac and cheese gets old fast. If you are vegetarian, or might become one, make sure to see what kinds of foods the school offers that meet your dietary needs. The food might look tasty, but there might be a human hair and tons of butter hiding in it...I'm serious. Walk around the campus. Look at the res. halls-all the ones you'd be living in.

When you feel like you have asked too many questions, ask one more. Never leave room for assumptions. You can learn from mistakes, but you can learn more without effort if you just ASK. Do not stand for silence in the classroom, but do leave gaps in the discussions for others to interject. YOU are responsible for your own learning. Learning does not end with textbooks, but does not start with skipping class. Do not spend an entire day indoors, but do take advantage of comfy couches in the library. Remember college is for traditional and untraditional learning. Lastly, have self-control, but don't stray too far from the things that make you smile.

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Truly wait for the right fit. Don't pick a school just because it's convenient. And once you're there, go to the club fair! That's where you fiind the greatest number of people interested in things that you like. Don't be afraid to approach people in class- that's how I've made some of my greatest friends, and go to school-sponsored events. They'll widen your experiences. Take advantage of everything that your school offers.

I would begin by saying that it is important to take into account not only the size of the school and the facilities on available on campus, but also to take into account the surrounding area. It is important, especially in your Junior and Senior year to be in a community that allows for you to become plugged into your future career field and to begin networking and getting life experiences. Do not base a decission solely on how pretty a school is, how good it will look when you have a diploma with that schools name on it. Concider the support system provided by the school. Availablity of career counciling, alumni networks, social activities, life coaching, and counciling services will create an environment that willprovide support and a greater possibility of success.

Visit several campuses. This is where you are going to live for the next four or more years. Once you have narrowed it down to your top three visit them all again and really get a feel for the university. Also, don?t believe everything the admissions people tell you.