Denison University Top Questions

Dear high school senior, When choosing which college is right for you, think about what you want to gain from your college experience. Do you want to focus on athletics? Greek life? Start a "green" team? Finding your niche will help you adapt to any college, and can make your experience a deeper and more meaningful one. Having pride in your school is important and is developed through your own committment to it. So, when your reading through all of those college guide books, decide what is most important to you, and what each campus has to offer that will make you feel at home. For me, I wanted to find a University where I could get a strong science curriculum, while still playing varsity soccer. Finding that perfect combination was difficult, but the long arduous search was definitely worth it in the end.

Coming to Denison was the most frustrating, stressful, and miserable transition of my life. I have never been so upset during any point of my being, but i attribute that mostly to playing football my freshmen year. It was this transition that I have found to be such an important part of who I am today though. Were I to go back in time and talk to myself, I would undoubtedly have a few words of advice. The first being "embrace your new environment with open arms." I actually did not really have trouble with this necesarilly, but what was difficult was letting go of home. That is why I would tell myself make the most out of your new home. Do not seal yourself off from the outside world because it will in fact only make you more depressed. Remember the good old high school days but look forward to your new experiences, friends, and school. Most importantly I would say this: what i said above is not easy; however, if you give it time and effort everything will work out fine.

I would encourage myself to truly consider the location of the school and the liberal arts atmosphere more. I feel as, though I have assimilated well on campus, I may have grown more and defined myself as an individual more on a larger campus that could have offered me more diversity than my present school does. The main point I would stress to myself in high school would be: DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BREAK OUT OF YOUR BUBBLE! I would also avise myself that not every hiccup along the way is bad- it truly defines who you will become.

I would tell myself to look harder and to really think about what I wanted to get out of my college experience. I was not really into the college search process and I just kind of ended up at Denison. Fortunately, I got very lucky and love it here so much and wouldn't change it for the world, but I really would tell myself to look harder and to visit more places and apply to more schools.

I have two pieces of advice: First, don't set your heart on one school. I was lucky: although I was rejected from my dream school, I was first wait-listed which acted as a sort of stepping stone between waiting and rejection. The time from April to July when there was still some hope but not a lot allowed me a chance to fall in love with the school that I do attend and now that I'm there I could never ever transfer because I love it so much. There are more than one schools that fit your wants and needs! Second, when you're trying to decide between schools where you've been accepted SPEND THE NIGHT! I can't stress how much fun this is and it's a great way to really see the campus as the students do which immensly helps make an informed decision.

Don't stress too much about finding the perfect college. As long as the size is what you want, and you can afford it, college is what you make it. If you go in thinking it will be awful, it will be. Also, if something bad happens, let it go. Don't judge the whole experience because of one bad thing. For example- if you don't like your roommate, don't hate the school, don't hate college life, just find something else to focus on like clubs or spots. Finding friends is the best way to make the most out of your experience. Just make sure they don't influence you to hurt your grades. And don't be afraid to make friends continously. You won't meet everyone on the first week of your first semester, so always be open.

Finding the right college is not always a cut and dry process. For some lucky people, visiting a school for the first time is enough to know that "this school is the place for me." But many people never feel that instant connection with a campus and that is OK. My theory is that most people would be happy at any college in the world as long as they get involved, make friends, and take advantages of the many opportunities that are offered on campus. The next four years are going to be some of the best you will ever have. Do things that you never thought you would do. Learn about and explore your campus, your town. Go to concerts, movies, speakers, rallies, protests. Meet people who are different from you. These are the experiences that will grow you, shape your worldview, and make you into the person that you will be for the rest of your life.

Three words: Small Liberal Arts. You just can't go wrong when you study the liberal arts, it will make you into the kind of person that America needs today.

Dear parent, go on campus visits with your child and ask some good questions, because the students dont know what they need to be asking (probably). Make them pick a major, if they are undecided, so at least you can get specific information about one aspect of their potential education. Liberal arts educations, while seemingly impractical in finding a good job, will have the potential to sculpt your child into a world citizen with the kind of critical thinking necesary in these changing times. Do it.

All I would say about finding the right college would be to find a school that makes you happy. I believe if you are happy you will make the best of your college experience. Being happy can consist of the people that you surround youself with, your focus academically, and your overall view of the campus. If you are not happy at school then your performance will reflect that and also your college experience will suffer.

Stay open-minded. There are a lot of colleges and universities out there so students should make sure they have seen everything before making a decision. Visit the campus and if you have your heart set on a particular school, try and interview once or twice with the admissions office. It shows your interest and they'll remember you.

Do what you feel

Don't come into the college selection process with any biases. Keep an open mind and, soon, you'll find that you don't know much about what you're looking for. Most schools are great for someone, but the more you visit, the more you'll understand which great place is the right one for you. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted. I only visited schools that matched my ill-informed standards -- small, mid- to highly-ranked liberal arts schools. The college I ended up attending is a great place, but after two years (and numerous visits with friends at schools all over the country), there's no question in my mind that I would have been happier somewhere else. If you're dying to go to an Ivy, visit your flagship state school. If you can't imagine life without Big Ten football, check out a tiny liberal arts college. Whe you do, talk to students, professors, staff -- anyone and everyone. Don't be shy. No one will remember what you asked if you decide to come, and it can help you make the most of the next four years of your life.

It is very important to do research and to narrow down what types of schools that are in interest to the student. The worst thing to happen would be to invest time and money into a school/experience that isn't what the student wanted.

Keep your search as broad as you can! If you only look at a few schools, then the one that seems the best only seems so great relative to few others you consider. When you visit schools, find Juniors and Seniors that will sit down and talk to you for a few minutes, and tell them to give it to you straight, and objectively at that. Often times students feel they have a responsibility to stretch the truth or accent the positives of their school, but they probably have a lot of information that you'll wish you had known a few years down the road.

You need to visit the college and make sure it 'feels' right -if it doesn't feel right, don't go. Be aware of the immediate surroundings and ask yourself whether it is a setting you will feel comfortable in, realize that what is beyond walk distance or a short drive may be hard to access, especially if you do not have a car on campus. Talk to student on campus and make sure they have the types of programs you want academically and socially. Spending the night on campus is a great way to get some honest answers from student and experience the college for yourself. Lastly, realize that it is okay if you realy feel after a year that you made the wrong decision, even if it means leaving the school and starting over.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO APPLY BECAUSE OF COST! If you find a college that seems perfect, but is way out of your price range, go ahead and apply and wait and see what the financial aid package looks like. Be sure to fill out the FAFSA! Also, just like with the admissions process, what you will get out of your college experience depends on how much work you put in. Join clubs and organizations - meet people. take the effort the first semester to get out and experience campus...you'll find your niche, just give it time.

I would say go to whatever school fits you. When i first visited Denison i really liked it, I liked the whole atmosphere of it. Select a school where you like the environment that it has. Also, don't let price deter you. Many schools offer great financial aid. To make the most of the college experience I would say to get involved, whether it be in sports or clubs or fraternities or sororities. There is more to college than school, getting involved helps you meet many people and make friends.

Pay attention to the types of students you see walking around the campus, the experience of the professors, and the overall geography of the school.

Don't make your decision solely based on tour/what you learn when visiting because that's what I did and I hate Denison; I feel soooo deceived and so do many students here. TALK TO STUDENTS WHO DONT WORK FOR ADMISSIONS OFFICE BECAUSE THEIR ANSWERS ARE WORTHLESS ASIDE FROM STATISTICS/FACTS. Honestly, really talk to other students--ask them what they HONESTLY think. Inquire about the social life--especially if you don't plan to drink. Ask about housing situation if you can't afford to live off campus. Don't pick school that's rural/secluded if you won't have a car. Even though the applications are annoying/costly, apply to many schools and be certain about your choice because four years is a long time to be miserable and transferring is really hard for lots of reasons. Don't pick a school just because they offer you the most money if you can financially afford to have more discresion. Finally, don't come to Denison unless you're a really smart upper-middle class preppy white kid who plans to go Greek. Those are only types of people who have a prayer of liking it here.