Randi
Sleep is really important to getting good grades. Making friends works best when you are yourself. Try new things and dont be afraid to fail, no one is good at everything, but you might surprise yourself with what you are capable of.
haley
I would tell myself that I need to apply mysef 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and stuy to make good grades. I do not need to be messig around with friends and not doing my work.
Jaclyn
The most important piece of advice I would give to parents and students about finding the right college is to do extensive reasearch. First, figure out what colleges/universities the student may be interested in. Next, look up the university's public web site, visit the campus and take a tour to get a feel of it, and get testimonials from the alumni or current students . Make sure the college is fully accredited and has high standards, as well as a well-educated and personable staff. The last thing anyone longs for is a place that makes them unhappy or hinders their growth as an individual, academically and/or spiritually. As for making the most out of the college experience, I would say enter it with a "can-do" attitude. The more possitive a person is, the happier they will be and the more likely they are to succeed.
Katie
The most important advice I could give someone on selecting a college, is that the decision should be the person who will be attending college. Many times parents push their children into doing something that the children do not want. This may work for a short time, but will almost always end in failure. At some point your children need to take the reigns and make decisions for themselves. If you can't trust them to make this decision, how can you trust them once they move out? This is a decision that will affect your children far beyond the four years they will spend studying until 3 a.m. It will affect the values they hold, the friends they have, the job they get, and whether they will graduate or drop out after the first semester. If you let your kids make this decision and give them the chance to grow up, more than likely you will get results that are what you wanted, if not better.
Ashley
I would advise parents and students to consider how they can grow in the school they would like to attend. Are there many opportunities for learning & developing their mind and character? Could they see themselves in this environment, and if so, would they truly enjoy themselves there? Is that place (college) a place that they would love to be?
Once the student has found the school that they would like to be a part of, all that is left is to immerse themself in that college's culture. They could try some new things in addition to the "normal" activities that they are used to. I would encourage them to make friends in all groups, but to have those few really close friends with whom they are really close. Most of all, I would advise them to enjoy every moment.
Craig
Visit the college more than once. Go to the college when there not specifically not trying to sell you on the college. Visit with random students who go to school there to get their in put and feelings about the school they attend.
Ryan
The second you become a freshman in High School, start keeping up your grades, and start searching for colleges you think you may like. Then throughout high school, think of career choices and keep narrowing a list of careers and colleges down until about junior/ senior year. Make sure you apply to any and all scholarships that you are eligible for no matter what the amount all through high school. Start preparing during the summer between your junior and senior year for applications for colleges and scholarships. The key is to stay on top of things. Keep up your grades and makes sure the FAFSA is done as soon as possible and dont put anything off.
Jennifer
Finding the right school is not an easy task. It is not like picking out what you are going to wear to school, but more like picking a boyfriend. You want something that is going to allow you to enrich your life, empower your spirit, challenge your mind and be a wise descision financially. You want to pick a school that you can commit to. Four years is a long time, and you don't want to be stuck at a dead end. Also, you want somewhere that allows you to be you and to have the freedoms to make your own choises, plus have the perks of enjoying things that you are interested in. Finally, you don't want to choose a place that is going to make you and your parents go into debt. Harvard may be the best place to go to college, but there are also local colleges that offer the same challenges for a lot less.
So, be smart, don't go choosing a college on what the picture looks like, but look at the mission and character of the school. Make sure that it is a right fit for you!
Jamie
Search for the cheapest school with great morals and values.
Ashley
I would recommen that you find a school that is small so people are willing to treat you like a human being. You should pick out a school that has the moral standards that you most admire. I would also pick a school that is willing to help you financially because it's not easy to keep money saved for 4-5 years without a job. Find somewhere that has employers who are willing to hire college students and work with their schdule.
Chad
I would say that when you are looking for a college for either yourself or you future student, take into account what you want them to take back from that college. If you want a name for yourself and to have employers look at you with wide-eyes, then pick a college that has that reputation. Pick a college that will support you or your future student. This will inevidably decide whether or not you or your future student will succeed. Lastly, pick a college that you know will motivate you or your future student. That motivation, sometimes, will be all you have to keep you going when all you want to do is quit.
Rachael
Searching for colleges can be so stressful and worrisome. However, once I found out about College of the Ozarks, my mind was made up. I knew my parents couldn't afford to send me to a big college or university, so I knew that chosing College of the Ozarks was in my whole family's best options. I would say to make sure you choose a school that fits what you want to study, that is not in a price range that is outrageous compared to your family's income, and to choose a school where you feel comfortable.
To make the most of your college experience, get involved on campus! Yes, do your homework and go to class, but do get involved in campus clubs and organizations! They can really lead to great opportunities and are a good extension of what you learn in the classroom!
Evan
My advice would be to choose a college or university that will fit best with the educational track you would like to take. The worst thing would be for you to attend a school for 4 years and then realize that you have spent 4 years studying something that is not going to help you in life. Also, make sure to enjoy school while you are there. By enjoy I don't mean drinking, drugs, and partying, I am talking about being with friends and making life-long friends in order for you to carry on later in life. Finding yourself and re-creating who you are is a major part of life in college. You no longer have to be who your parents wanted you to be or who your siblings were, you are unique, you are who you want to be. Make sure and find out what your life's mission is and what you want to accomplish while you live life. Life is short and fragile, you need to make the best of it while you are there. You only have a number of breaths in this life, what are you going to do with yours?
Douglas
Give yourselves lots of options apply everywhere you can and when you get acceptance letters then decide. Remember that the exact degree you get isn't the most important thing in the world finishing is very important. There are plenty of people out there who have degrees and aren't working in those fields. If you are planning to further your education beyond a bachelors it isn't really important what degree you have it might just take a little longer to fullfill the requirements needed for the advanced degree. Enjoy yourself and go to class, you will learn something.
Lila
College is what you make it. Look at colleges that intrest you and go to the one that has a mission that looks like what you want or think would be most compatible with your personality, not all colleges are for everyone. It is very improtant to get involved because without doing so you will feel alone and not meet new fun people.
Rachael
To find the right college you must first decide how far away you want to be, cost, if they have the major you want, their policies, and anything else that matters to you. Don't pick a school just because your friends are going there, or because it's where your Dad went. Pick a school that fits YOUR needs. Other wise you are probably not going to be happy with the choice you make. Not everyone has to go to an Ivy Leauge school. Sometimes the small schools are the perfect fit.
Amber
Go with your heart. Go with what you want. Don't worry about how...just do. It'll come to you! Have fun, do new things, meet new people. DO study. Don't forget that is why you are there. DON'T over do it. One bad grade isn't going to be worth the stress.. DON'T forget about the people at home who love you dearly. Help others all you can, and you will be helped!
Jonathon
The first thing that must be considered is ones financial condition. Cofo is for those whose condition is less than ideal. I would also advise that one must study hard and work hard to succeed in college.
Brady
Its a great school; Everyone is very supportive, the professors are AWESOME and ALWAYS willing to help, I ma really impressed with how personal they are