Christopher Newport University Top Questions

Firstly, you have to visit a college campus before deciding which one is right for you. Secondly, don't ever go to a college because your friends or significant other is going there, it's a big decision that you'll have to live with for four years and pay a lot of money for. Don't worry if you don't know what you want to major in yet, taking gen eds and electives will help you decide when you get a taste of different types of college classes. Make sure to join clubs or sports, it's the best way to find others with the same intrests as you. Lastly, don't sweat it! College will be the best experience of your life!

Spend the night in the dorms before deciding on any college

Choose whatever fits you not about about the prestige

While there are many aspects to take into account when searching for the right college, such as location, tuition, and so on, I believe that the single most important aspect to focus on is the overall environment of the school and how you see yourself within that environment. From a parents point of view I can see how the academic credibility of a school may seem most important but credibility only means so much when a student doesn't feel at home and take advantage of what the school has to offer. While its not always the easiest thing to do I believe that extended stays at schools are pertinent to finding how a prospective student feels about the environment. To better define a schools environment and pick out what I think are the most important things to look into prospective students should sit in on various classes, talk to professors in different fields of study, look into what the campus has to offer outside of academics, and most importantly interact with students who currently attend the school. When searching for the right college try not to think of it as just that but instead a home away from home.

I would adise people to look for a school that is the perfect fit, one that is not too big, but also not too small. One that focuses on academics but still pays attention to the finer things--such as the asthetics of the campus and other things.

Meet people at the college and talk to them!!

I would strongly recommend that the students stay the night at the schools that they visit. Many schools offer a program to stay with a student at night and attend classes during the day. Any college can and will say anything during the day around your parents, but staying the night and interacting with students away from adult supervision will allow any student to grasp what the college is really like. I have hosted many overnight students and they always have more questions about what the college is really like. Attending the classes is also a good idea. A school can claim engaging professors and small classes but experiencing them for yourself can be completely different. You will be able to see with your own eyes how students interact with teachers, how the classes are taught, who your peers will be. There is so much that can be learned from attending one class. Overall the best advice is get away from the internet and experience the college for yourself.

My freshman year at Christopher Newport University, our Great Lawn turned into the nation?s sixth Great Lake. Classes were cancelled and students were encouraged to go home: Hurricane Ernesto was upon us. Not many students left though because staying on campus was too much fun. Half the school wound up on the Great Lawn to play tackle football, skim board, or paddle around in an inflatable boat. Now I tell everyone that if they come to CNU, they?ll need to pack a pair of rain boots. My advice to students on their college search is to talk to current students on campus: hear their stories about exceptional times like hurricanes, and regular times like weekends. Ask them what they do for fun, how they spend their time, and what their passions are. Then do some soul-searching: Do you think you can find people on campus with whom you will connect? Are people you meet interested in the same things as you? Do you feel like you can grow intellectually and socially at the college you?re visiting? Of course, the best way to discover all this to visit the college campus for more than just a tour!

Choosing the right college can make a huge impact on your experience. I have so many friends who chose a college based on its reputation or without even visiting it. Make sure you know what kind of school you want to go to (size? religion-oriented? liberal arts? etc.) and research anything and everything. I think it is also very important to visit the school. Getting a feel for what to expect made a huge impact on my decision to attend my college, and I am so glad that I visited before I came. I have a number of friends who have transferred to other schools because they really had no idea what their school was like before they went. As for making the most of your experience, just make sure you get involved on campus with activities, volunteering, etc. Most schools offer plentiful opportunities to have fun on campus and help the surrounding communities. You can feel better about yourself, and about those around you by helping others. Although its cliche, college really can be "the best years of your life," but only if you know what you want out of your college and make sure to be involved! :)

Find the school that seems to best represent what you enjoy about life and learning. Take every opportunity to expand your thinking and never shy away from opportunities to do more than you believe yourself capable of. Learn how to work hard, but also learn how to balance that work with fun, because they is almost no greater opportunity to meet interesting people and have incredible experiences. Look for professors who will take an active role in your learning and development and seek out friends that challenge you accademically. There are so many opportunities availible for students that want to work hard and succeed. The difficult part is discovering these opportunities; however, the more you show your professors how hard you are willing to work the more you will find favorable circumstances falling into your lap.