Ryan
Dont limit yourself. Spread your wings and take a chance. It will work out in the long run.
ashley
I knew Clemson was the place for me, not only because I'm a legacy to the university, but because I felt a connection when I came to visit. Being from out of state, I didn't know any people going to the school, but I still knew it was the right place. The defining moment not only came in tailgating at the football games since I was three years old, but when I came to visit without my family. I had taken the official tour, I had been to the games, and I had heard all the wonderful memories my family members had made here, but I hadn't yet seen the real Clemson for myself. I stayed the night with a family friend when as a sophomore in high school, and I cannot stress enough the importance of that weekend in my college search. Staying overnight in the dorm and being around town, getting the night-time atmosphere, even without the excitement of the football games, and also attending a class of interest was the best thing I did. Clemson had always been a football team that I loved; but after that weekend, it became a true goal.
John
Look for some where that you feel your identity can flourish. Don't worry about making friends; that will come where ever you attend. Find some place that speaks to who your are, and the rest will fall into place.
Brandon
make sure to look hard for the college that has everything you need because it can be challenging to transfer from one school to another, as i did.
Colleen
The college experience will be one of the best experiences of your life if you find a college that fits your wants and desires. The first steps in choosing a college is to narrow down what you are looking for in a college, both the academic and social aspects. The next step is to do some research on the colleges that match your criteria. The internet is a great source of information and there are multiple web searches that can help narrow down and extract some of the colleges that may be suitable. There also exist a lot of inexpensive books that provide information on a good number of colleges from small liberal arts colleges to large universities. Third, you have to visit the colleges to truly get a feel of the atmosphere. Ask some of the students who attend the school about their feelings and how they enjoy the campus. The best information is the inside information from the students who attend the university. Finally, the best piece of advice I can offer is to choose Clemson University. Clemson is rated for some of the happiest students, and has given me the best experience of my life.
Krystal
Some advice that I would give to parents is to listen to what your child wants. So many times, it seems as though parents are vicarously re-living or even trying to experience college through their kids and I just don't that is fair. It is your child how has to sit in class, live in the dorms, and experience that university. I know for me, I originially did want to come to Clemson but then changed my mind and wanted to go somewhere else. However, I felt as though my parents were pushing me to come here so I did. I don't regret coming here, but I would feel better about being her if I had decided that this would be the best place for me, and not them. Also, for the students, I would say think with the end in mind. Where do you want to be and what kind of person do you want to become when it comes times for you to walk across that stage? The most important component of answering that questions is definitely how college and the overall college experience will help you lead to that goal.
Abbigail
While kids are interested in the social life aspect that college offers, it is really important that they pick the school that will best promote the type of education that will be critcal to their career. Parents, it's time to step back and let your student make the ultimate decision. However, know that your student really takes your advice into consideration.
Madeline
FOR PARENTS: Do not do all the research for your kids, and don't try to influence them based on where you think they would like to be. This is the time when they need to be taking control of their lives. Do not call academic advisors, do not request more information from programs, and once they are in college, do not contact their professors. Advisors and professors want the students to be taking control of their future, and they don't necessarily care how much the parent cares. They want to know the student cares. If your kids do not branch out and experience life for themselves in college, when will the best time for that be?
FOR STUDENTS: College provides the best environment to utilize resources, meet people, and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. Take college as an opportunity to experience life in a semi-sheltered environment. There will be no other time in your life when you are surrounded by so many of your peers who are all interested in learning and growing. Study hard because it will definitely pay off, but never forget to have fun!
Amanda
Most important is academics. Don't settle for any school that doesn't have the exact major you want. Check out the class sizes and professors, and get opinions of students, and not just what the brochures tell you. Ask if the professors are native speakers your language. Look at housing, on and off campus, and see if it is within a reasonable distance from campus. You want to make sure you won't be miserable, with long commutes, and large class sizes with no personal attention from the professors. When you're on campus, find activities and get involved. Meet your professors and make sure they know you by name. Don't let any opportunity pass you by. Study hard and have fun!
Mary-Frances
I think that it is important to take your time when deciding where to go to college. Deciding where to go to school is a big decision and I think it is important not to choose a school because a lot of your friends are going it should be for your own personal reasons. To make the most of the college experience, I think it is very important to get involved in activities that you enjoy and ones that maybe you do not know much about but have been interested in. If I could do college over agian I would have gotten much more involved. Getting involved has so many great perks. For example at my shcool the white water club lets you take out there kayaks anytime you want; the sailclub lets you check out sailboats anytime if you are a member; and the backpacking club goes on great trips. It is important to maintain a balance of social, and academics while in school. It is very hard to do but if you manage to do this. I think you will have a many great experiences.
Cierra
Choose the school where you feel most at home and welcomed but that also has a wide variety of areas of study in which you are interested. The social environment in college is important to give you a means of relaxation and a break from studying, but the academic variety is also important since most college students change their minds during college about what they want to study and do with their lives after college. While in college, get involved in as many things that you find interesting as possible, but learn and maintain a balance between academic and non-academic endeavors. Academics are not all that matter, but they are significant in post-college pursuits. College is a time when you really discover and establish who you are as an individual, so don't hold back but push yourself to get involved in things that you are passionate about, try new things, and have the time of your life!
Jennifer
The best advice that I can give anyone that is planning to attend / sending their child to college is to make sure that you are picking the college that you feel most comfortable. Go and visit many different colleges so that you will experience a little bit of life on a college campus. I was a little concerned with the overall college process, but once I visited Clemson University, I could tell that it was going to be my next home. If you feel comfortable in an environment, you will be more comfortable with the people, places and activites that that environment has to offer. You will be confident on the first day and more willing to branch out of certain comfort zomes and meet interesting people. I am glad that I visited Clemson and confirmed that I was making the first and best decision of my college career.
Jonathan
Focus on your career path and what you want to do. Choose a school that has a good reputation for your area of study. It is always important to take financial aspects of choosing your school as well. Try and find as many scholarships/financial aid/grants/loans if needed.
Lena
i feel like it's cliche to say that college is the best years of your life. But, as cliche as it may seem, it has definitely proven to be true for me so far. My time at Clemson University was incredible and unforgettable and there is not a day that goes by when I do not miss it. When choosing a college, it's important to consider multiple factors. Academics are obviously important, but so are the extra curriculars and community offered by the school, because those are elements that ultimately shape your personal growth process while in college. It's important for a school to have a sense of pride and a lively spirit. It's important that the school provide challenges to its students, academically and in other arenas as well. I believe that making the most of the college experience comes when you place focus on your academics and work with diligence and integrity, while at the same time maintaining a diverse and enriching social life filled with interesting people and challenging activities.
Gemma
First pick a school that fits you. Then see go vist the college and see how you like it. Meet the teachers and students and the dean and ask some questions. If you like it then you can choose what you would like to take at the college. If you don't know what you would like to take, go ahead and take all your basic classes like math, english, computer, ect. During that time you can think about what you would like to take.
Justin
Visit the school and interact with students and faculty. You'll be surprised at the little things you notice such as academic advisors always remembering your name. A school really needs to fit your personality. People adjust to things in different ways. Some like small colleges while others may prefer big. There is no way to truly determine the value of an education based solely on its academic prestige unless you take into consideration your college experience as a whole. Your college years will be some of the best times of your life and you will make friendships that will last forever. Take advantage of all the opportunities that you can because soon you will be in the workforce and won't have them chances. Travel and see as much of the world as possible. I will never forget my college experience and I owe it all to Clemson University. Everything from academics, athletics, to social life was a perfect fit for me so make sure you choose the right school for you. These years were honestly the best days of my life!
Katrina
The best advice I can give parents and students about finding the right college for them, is to really sit down and put together a list of what makes the student happy. This list should include everything from the importance of sports to art, as well as what they simply enjoy doing in their free time. After creating a list that includes what the students likes/dislikes are, another list of the students interests in careers and/or majors should be considered. I personally don't suggest choosing a school that does not have numerous options available as far as majors go. This is because many people I know, myself included, changed their major at least once between the time they entered school and graduated. I truly believe that until a student is on their own they don't really discover everything about themselves as a person. An enormous amount of growing and learning takes place throughout college, and it's important to remember this while picking a school. A student needs a school that not only caters to their career goals, but their personality and interests as well. After all, a happy student will be the most successful student.
Kimberly
Visit colleges, talk to current students, and make sure to stay overnight at the University with students before commiting to a University.
Esther
To students, I would say to find a major that will allow you to study things you actually enjoy. Contrary to popular belief, there are jobs available for everyone, regardless of what their majors were. Don't let job availability keep you from majoring in a field you love. Also, get involved with some kind of extracurricular activity, whether it's a religious organization, a Greek organization, or something to do with your academic field. But it's important to learn self-discipline early, and make sure your priorities are in order. It's important to have a good balance of work and play, but don't forget that your reason for attending college is to get a good education. Don't let your parents feel like you're wasting their money!
Brittany
Clemson is a great school.