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.