Clarkson University Top Questions

A lot of people are going to be giving you advice and persuading you to pick one school or another for whatever reason. It is important to find the right school for yourself, and to go there because you want to be there. And it's not the end of the world if you choose wrong; transferring is always an option. If you are unsure of your major, it might be a good idea to find a school that has a broader range of majors, rather than one that specializes in one field.

I hear people say, and adamantly believe, that humans?their minds/behaviors?are a direct product of their preliminary environment. As an individual who studies and is fascinated by the field of psychology, I exist on a different plane, in an entirely different frame of mind. If I learned anything in undergrad, it is that the developmental process of the mind/action is exceptionally more complex than that. If I were a direct product of my environment?daughter to a crack-cocaine addict and a serial domestic-abuse victim--I should be a fascinating patient in a behavioral health facility or asylum for the mentally depraved. My home padded walls or icy NYC boulevards/avenues, where I find comfort in street prescriptions like heroin. Fortunately, I am mentally intact; competent enough to be giving you?future students/parents?advice. Here it goes: consider past hardships; take risks despite them when choosing the right college! Travel fearlessly across the world or around the corner! This will help you make the most of college experiences. Allow places you go/people you encounter to shape who you will become. Though college will never define you, it will help you discover your true capabilities.

When choosing a college it is very important to make sure that the social atmousphere of the school matches you. If you dont and the schools social surroundings dont match you it will effect your grades. Take as many college credits you can in high school it helps allot to be ahead of the ball in college and the high school courses are generally much easier than the college ones.

When choosing a college look at the whole picture. Academic reputation is important, but for the most part there are many places that offer an outstanding education. If you know what you want to do, that is great. For many the choice isn?t so easy. It?s difficult to come to the realization that High School is over. There are many students that enter their freshman year at college and haven?t the faintest idea of what they want or where they want to go. This feeling is normal. It is nothing to be afraid of. Many people find themselves when they are exposed to the many choices and freedoms college has to offer. Another important factor when looking at schools is becoming familiar with the area. Research the town where the college is located. Go to the open houses offered by the individual schools. Learn about the culture, the weather, and the social life at each place. Research what the school has to offer. Everyplace has classes, so look beyond the classroom and into the types of programs that are available for the students. The most important thing is to be happy where you are.

I would start off by saying start early and do your research. It is never too early to start thinking about college. I attended my first college fair in 9th grade. I thought that I would never get through the heap of literature, pamphlets and brochures that I took home with me. Well, over the next 3 years I did manage to read through a ton of information about colleges. I went back to the college fair every year and each time was more prepared with better and more specific questions. Not only would the university have to accept me, but I would also have to accept the university. During my senior year of high school I had finally cut my list down from 120 to 8. I visited 6 of the 8 schools that I was accepted to and finally settled on Clarkson University for its great financial aid package, student friendly campus, and superb national rankings. Being a college student is great because there is always something to do. I am involved around campus in everyway that I can. I recommend anyone new to college to talk to everyone, because you never know where one conversation will lead.

Don't pick a college based on its cost or prestiege. Pick a college based on how well you feel it fits you. You're going to be living there for the next four years of your life. Make sure you pick somewhere you are going to be happy.

Make sure you take your child to visit the campus they are interested in. I believe it helps to sit in on some classes in the field they are interested in studying. This way you get to see how the professors and students interact, and you get a better feel for the personalities and lifestyles of those attending the school.

Researching everything about a college is extremely important. The enviornment, the location, the extra curricular activities and the majors they offer should be what makes a student and a parent choose that particular college.

Actually visit the school. Talk to students who go there. That way there will be less sugar coating. Start early in the college searching. It's important to take time and know exactly what your child wants out of colleges and life. Let your child decide where they want to go, not where you want them to go.

Visit as many colleges as possible and then make an ordered list of the ones that you would most like to go to based on whether you like the college itself. Then narrow down that list by taking off colleges that don't have what you're interested in academically and the one at the top of the list that is still there is probably going to be the college you would like the most.