Clemson University Top Questions

The most important piece of advice I can give a student or parent is to visit the college! You cannot just apply and just decide to go there. You have to get a feel for it and determine if it "fits" you. This is what happened for me. I didn't know where I wanted to go to college for sure, but when I visited Clemson, I fell in love with it!

Look around and go with your gut. It's about finding a family.

Finding the right college is important but the character of the student will determine their chance of success. I would advise parents and students to look for a college that will not be a financial burden, one that has strong academics, and one that offers a multitude of activities for the student to become involved in. Students need to take college seriously and pour themselves into their area of study to thoroughly learn the material and make the best of learning opportunities with experienced professors. However, this emphasis on academia must not lead to tunnel vision. A balanced approach to undergraduate education will prepare a young professional to be balanced in their approach to work and life post-college. Make the best of every moment that you have - study hard and play hard. Meet new people and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, help the community and the students around you prosper. Live each day as though it is your last and live with integrity.

I would ask them to find a school where they feel most at home. They are about to spend the next few years experiencing many new and exciting things. They need to find a place where they feel comfortable expressing themselves and becoming an independent young adult. As long as they are able to have a reasonable balance between their academics and social life, they will be able to have the time of their life. If there are opportunities for a person to be a part of some intramural team or some kind of organization, take it. College really is the time of your life and you want to be able to embrace every part of it. You want to be able to look back and realize that this was the most perfect school for you and wouldn't change a single thing about your unforgettable experience.

The common thing I saw among freshman was a lack of reality. The transition from high school to college can be too much to bear for many students. I feel that students should attend summer programs, if available, at the college they plan to attend. This will give them a better feel for was campus life will truly be like. Also, I try to explain to students that college is about balance; the ability to balance school work and leisure sounds simple, but that's the number one mistake students make that is detrimental to their education.

Let your kids visit the school and go out to party there. Its hard for high school parents to allow their kids to do this, but the most important factor is if you fit in to the social scene. Academics should also play a major role, but students need to be happy to remained driven and ambitious with studying.

Make sure that you visit multiple campuses. Do not base your decision on what your friends do. You will make new friends at school, college is about you.

Make sure you have researched all possible options for your school and know what to expect by talking to current students and reading reviews online.

If I had to give advice to parents or students who are looking for the right college I would say... Before you make any decisions about what school you want to go to you should discuss and think about the things in life that are important to you. Having this list when you visit the campus allows you to see whether or not all of those things will be available once you move from home. In addition, I think all students should visit the campus and find a student that is currently attending and talk to them about the pros and cons about the school. Doing so gives you a realistic idea of what your future will look like. After all of those things are done, I would say just trust your instinct. For me, the moment I stepped foot at my school I knew my blood ran orange, and I knew that was my home away from home. If you dont get that feeling keep looking and you will find an aluma mater that you will be proud of for years to come!

First make sure the school is affordable. It can be a hard pill to swallow when a student finds out they have to take out $10,000 a year in loans to attend the school they want. Next, make sure that the school will be a comfortable fit for the student. I think that participating in an orientation session or programs that offer overnight visits are a great start because your student will get to interact with the students at the school they plan to attend and see what their life is like from a first hand perspective. Not to mention there are usually opportunities for the parents and students to meet with teachers and professors who are in the respective major of the student's choice. I think the best way to make the most of the college experience is just by getting involved. Finding something of interest to participate in is a excellent way to meet people who share those same interests, to network for future references, and possibly explore the world. Whether it's playing a sport on an intramural team, joining a specific organization, or volunteering the access to success is at your hands.