College of Mount Saint Vincent Top Questions

My first piece of advice is to visit the school in which you are thinking of applying! This is where you will potentially be spending the next four years. Next, be social and makes new friends! You can meet friends in college that will be with you for the rest of your life. Maybe one of the most important thing is to do well in your classes. Don't forget, your paying all that money to learn and get an education, not to party. Many people make this mistake (especially during their freshman year) and it is very hard to come back from. We don't realize how fortunate we are to be given the chance to even go to school. Do well and succed...you'll have time to party later.

Pick a college that fits your personality. If you pay more attention in small classes, pick a school that can offer that. Make sure when you go for your interview, that you interview the school. The school wants to make sure you are a good candidate and you should make sure they are a good candidate for you. When you start school, make sure you get involved in something whether your getting paid or not. Take advantage of all resources on campus, from the computer labs, to activities they may hold, to free tutoring. If your ever unsure of anything, make sure to speak with your professor. Always go to class, and be on time. Ask questions and be attentive. Make friends with people in your class, so as you can speak with them after class to ask their opinions on the lecture and see if you have the correct understanding on the material. Also this group of friends, can turn into your study group. Most importantly, do not procrastinate. Remember, motivation and determination will get you far.

Parents need to let go and let their child experience life for themselves. Be supportive of your child, but don't expect them to follow all of the rules you set in place. When your child is looking for schools, look with them. Be a part of the process, it will help in the long run. Don't try to live through them, let them decide what he or she wants, and support that. Students finding the right college have to understand, college is about academics. It took me a long time to realize that. Go to a good school, not a party school. Honestly, as long as you put the work in, you will find the time to be social. You are paying for what amounts to be an experience. Enjoy yourself as much as you can, but don't forget that your academic responsibilities come first, especially if you are on scholarship. College lasts four years, enjoy it as much as you can. Afterwards what you learned is going to be applied in some form or another, just pray you weren't too hungover for that class.

Get started early. Don't wait until senior year of high school - junior year is a good time to start researching. If you or your children are looking for a career in the medical field, it's never to early to start volunteering. It can't hurt for any major, for that matter. As for making the most of the college experience, I would say it's important to realize that you are there primarily for your education and personal improvement, but it's important to leave some time for socializing. This should not, however, dominate or interfere with your school work. Taking courses over the summer can be a good idea if there is a possibility that you will not graduate in the normal 4 years. Some people say college is not for everyone, but I think education is extremely important. Everyone should at least try to attend college. When researching schools, consider location (rural/suburban/urban) , size, and cost. Prestige is not everything. I go to a school that many people have never heard of, but the biology program is amazing and I would not go back and change my decision to go here.

Both the parents and student should seek advice from their school advisor in suggesting certain colleges that will best fit the student's major of choice. I strongly advise parents and students to go and visit as many different college campuses as they can in order to see what that college has to offer them. By visiting different college campuses, the student as well as the family will be exposed to the setting the college is surrounded by, the size of the campus, how are the classrooms or lecture rooms are set up, what extra-curricular activities the college has offer, and so much more. I also advise students who are interested in attending a certain college to interview a couple students about their college of interest. It would be more beneficial if the student talked to a current college student who is in the same major as they are planning to major in. By doing this, the student has a better understanding of what they expect to find and experience from college life and what they must do in order to be successful and meet their goal.

It is essential to take everything with an open mind. When thinking about choosing a college do not rule one out right away-it may be the one that is right for you. It is important to start your search early in order to have enough time to decide where you want to go. For example, I started my search really late and regret doing that. I did, however, have an open mind when it came to this college. I had never heard of it before, but I did not rule it out. It ended up being the right college for me because it offerred the small classes and provided a friendly environment. I was able to adjust well to the new setting, while being surrounded by supportive friends and faculty. There is always going to be a period of adjustment. It's okay to not like it right away, but do not give up before you give it a try. Get involved in some activities or make friends in your classes. You never know how much you will end up loving a place once you get to know it a little bit better. You may never want to leave!

When it comes to picking a college, try to look for something that you know will make you happy and comfortable. For students, ask yourself certain questions such as would I rather be in a class that has 300 students or in a class that only has 25? What do students do when their on breaks or during the weekends? How good is the food? For parents, ask similar questions. How is the campus security? How much financial aid can my student recieve? Look at what cultures makes up the college and see what can you learn from people who are different from yourself. College is all about taking that last step till you enter the "real" world, so why not make it the best by exploring what is around you. What can you take in from your surroundings and use it to your advantage?

I think that when choosing a college parents and children alike should think about the costs they will incurr and what they feel will be the best for them.

Make sure that you take your time to visit the colleges and really sit down and make sure you can afford a school. There is nothing worse than going to school and always worrying about finances, or being unhappy at a place that doesn't fit you. For the students: do what you feel will make you happiest, not what will make your parents happiest. And parents: Do what you can to help fulfill your child's dreams of school. I know it might be straining financially at times, but as long as they are happy and getting a good education, it makes it worth while in the end.

I believe that visiting the colleges before you apply is very important. You are going to be there for the next four years of your life and you need to make sure it is an environment you feel comfortable in. Once you are in college, learning to prioriotize is going to also be important. You are going to find yourself in situations where you are invited to a cool party but have a 10 page paper due the next day. You have to always keep in mind that you are here to study and obtain good grades because you are now paying for your education and it is not cheap. You can still have fun but school must always come first.