Andrea
The advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to be picky; choose a college that you absolutely know you will enjoy. This is your future you're talking about, so think hard and don't just settle for something you're unsure about. Choose a major that consists of doing things that really interest you, and get involved as much as you possibly can with school activities. Even if you are not playing a sport, volunteer, participate in other school events such as; sporting events, picnics and other recreational activities. This gives everyone the opportunity to go out and meet the people that they are attending college with. I've found by being involved in these types of activities, especially my freshman year, has given me the chance to meet a lot of great people, and make a lot of great friends. By choosing a college with a major you know will make you happy, and by participating in events held throughout campus, college is sure to be enjoyable.
Zach
Whether living on campus is a choice or not I highly recommend it. I live only 8 minutes away from my house but still live on campus. If it?s a big hassle communicating or scheduling with a college seriously debate going there, the hassle won?t go away once you attend there.
Monique
As a parent and a student, I would suggest that you visit the college campus. Research the success rate of each campus and the support that is offered to succeed. It's extremely important that you also encourage your student to get involved with campus activities to experience all that the college has to offer, thus, allowing them to meet new people and create long-lasting relationships. Learn to manage your time and take a mixture of classes. Taking a mixture of classes (major required and easy) allows for more faculty-student interaction. Also taking advantage of study groups could prove to help in the long run. It promotes healthy learning and students who study in groups understand the material and are more engaged in their classes. Don't hide your academic problems, if you're struggling, take the concern to the professor, and also your academic advisor. It's always a great idea to get to know at least one faculty member each semester. You'll feel more connected to your school (and those letters of recommendation will be helpful later on).
Edward
When you are looking for a college to attend you must first decide what kind of environment you would enjoy living the next four years of your life with. Decide if you believe a big school with a low teacher to student ratio will not give you problems by learning a lot on your own or a small school with a high teacher to student ratio giving you all the tools that you need to succeed. After you have figured the size of the school you should look at what you want your degree in and locate schools that strive on that degree to be there best. The next area of discussion is the drive time to your new campus from your parents house, are you going to be able to go far away and see your parents only a couple of times a year or would you prefer to be in state and close and have your parents be there when you need help with anything? These are the top three researched questions that you should ask yourself when attending college, if you follow these questions it will make your next four years of college a great experience.
Kristin
I would tell parents to allow their child to choose the school that best fits them. I attended another school before this one and I didn't feel the same sense of community. Colleges help us to be creative and explore who we are. I would tell syudents to get involved in the decision making process about colleges early and find a school that meets your need on a broad basis.
Paris
College is the most important time of your life. It is a time for independance, and self discovery about one's self. When you walk in a college you will know if its the right fit for you. You will feel connected to the students, staff, and everything that goes on here. You never want to regret your college experience. The time and patience and dedication will be worth the financial responsibility. So just take your time and look around, its out there somewhere. Your second home.
Ronda
Since I am a college student, parent and have a son who enter college this semester, I found it very important to make your college selection like you would a husband or wife. When you make your selection, you make a commitment that's going to affect your life. You want to make sure it meets most of your needs and that compromise is part of the package. There will be things you'll love and there will be things you don't like and things you will endure but making the best of it is the goal. With that said, everything might not be perfect and patience becomes your best friend but know that commitment, sacrifice will take you to levels of wisdom only gain by those who are willing to strive for success so with that in mind remember this word "SYATT" (See You At The Top) because education is the only way.
Rachel
The most important parts of choosing the right school are patience and research. Take the time to look at all aspects of a college before making your decision. This will be the place you spend the majority of your time for a few years of your life. You will want to make sure that the climate is one that you can deal with. You will want to make sure that the classes offered are what you are looking for. Make sure that there are more than one major offered by the school that interest you because chances are you WILL change your mind at some point. Take the time to check out the living situation, whether it be on or off campus. Make sure that the comforts of home that you require are present at the school you want to attend. Most importantly, once you have chosen your school, make the best out of your time there, GET INVOLVED! Spend some time finding a group or multiple groups that you are interested in and sign up. The best way to make your college experience wonderful and exciting is to make themost out of it.
Brandy
I would say to the parents of potential college students that it is ok to push your child to go to college. Of course this is in moderation, but with financial aid and scholarships anyone can achieve higher education. Remember that encouragement, persistance, and believing in your child goes along way, no matter what age they are. Sit down and talk with your child, find out what their interests are and base those findings on what college you send them to. To the student I say, do not put off what you can do today because tomorrow is not promised. I am an adult student, although I had the chance to go to college right out of high school. It was one of the biggest mistakes that I have ever made. I say this, not to try and preach to you, but because I have wasted so much time at dead end jobs. I also lost my little brother, who was extremely bright. Don't make the same mistakes that we made, go to college to learn all you can. Don't forget that you can party for the rest of your life, once you get your degree that is.
Bernadette
My advice to parents, is to let your children go to college. College has a good life experience a person can have. making sure the college your child attend is safe and clean. Some time paying a little more for the best college seem like a hard thing to do, but in the long run it will be a good investment in your child future. college also them more independence. If you have tought your child good moral and value you will not have nothing to worry about when they leave home.
miguel
The advice I would give to take your time and dont pick a collge because your friends are attending that colloge or its the best collge that you think can afford. Pick the collge that makes you feel good about yourself. Dont forget you will must likely be in this college for a least 4 years. Why go to a college you are not proud to say you attended. Lets say you want to go to Michigan state university but cant afford it. If thier is a will thier is a way find everything in your power to attend MSU. Do a little networking call friends and family for funds expalin to them this is your dream college. Work while you attend college thier is no reason not to follow your dream. I am a Manager I work aroud 60 hours a week I havmanage e five kids but I still
Lindsay
The best advice I can give is to communicate throughout the entire process. It is all too often that students go into college following the dreams only their parents want them to have. Inevitably causing the students college experience to be a poor one. If it is out in the open from the beginning what the student wants to get out of college then it is much easier to have a successful experience. More advice for the student themselves would be to get involved with activities on and around campus. College can be a great experience, but experiencing the diversity and social aspect is also very important to success in life after you have obtained your degree. Get involved! Yes college is a place for persons who are serious about life, but everyone has a need for friends, and it is a great place to make life long friends that will help you be motivated throughout life. To have the oppertunity of going to college is a blessing, get out there and make the most of it.
Elizabeth
My advice would be to choose a college that makes you happy; not your parents, or your best friend, but you yourself. Go into each college tour with an open mind because the greatest discovery might just come at the least expected time. Think of yourself as a student -- right then and there -- will you like walking the halls, living in the dorms, and each class size?
The college experience is about living and learning. Walk up to a fellow student and introduce yourself, enjoy the class assignments with interaction among your peers because a lot of the time, those people will become your study buddy, proofreader, and friend. Don?t be afraid to try something new. Not only is college about getting an education, it?s about being independent, making choices, living life, and loving the experience. Once you?re out in the ?real world? the knowledge obtained from the countless hours of class time, exam prep, and late night homework will turn into a degree you?re proud of from a college you soon won?t forget.
Sara
Go with what feels right. If the campus, instructors, and classes seem right, it is most likely the right school.
NIKIDA
My advice to students and parents about finding the right college is find the best college for your major. It is very important to find a school that has a strong focus in the career field that you are entering. I would also suggest researching the campus prior to attending via web searches, newspaper articles, statistics, etc. You should also make several on-campus visits to experience the campus life hands on.
Sandy
Make sure you feel comfortable in the environment. If you need a smaller lecture class, choose a smaller school.
Garrett
Scholarships are important in determining a school, but they should not be the basis for making a decision. College is a time to find yourself, to examine the world around you, and step outside of your comfort zone. Move out of the home - go to the school that you want to go to. Write down what is most important for you in determining a school and base your decision on that. Make your decision based on what YOU (the student) wants, not what anyone around says you want. Be an individual, get involved, and don't be afraid of diversity. Take a look at the campus, look in the classrooms - do you want to be like the other students there?
Rachel
Follow your dreams of your future. Dont go to a school that all of your friends are going to just because they are going there. Live your life with great expectations and never look back at your decisions. Everything happens in life for a reason and that is why you need to live life to the fullest.
Samantha
I think students need to be honest with themselves as to what environment they learn best in. Take a look at as many schools as you can and visit the campus. Don't go to a school just because you've heard a lot of great things, a large university isn't right for everyone. I would suggest comparing the differences between private and public schools. Finacial aid is a hard thing to understand so be sure to ask for help and do it early to ensure you are getting the most money you can. Apply for a ton of scholarships. There is no greater feeling than knowing it's possible to attend college and not be in debt!
Maxwell
It takes a lot of research to locate the best college for you. Just online research is not good enough. Look up ways of getting a tour and information about the different degrees. As well as checking out the student life, classroom size, tution costs, the library, and the technology part of the school. It may sway your decision. No one wants a bad college experience.