Doane University-Arts & Sciences Top Questions

Choose the one that you feel at home. You will know it when you are at the right school for you. If you struggle in the beginning don't believe that if you transfer it will be any better at another school. College is extremely different than high school and more than likely it just takes time to adjust to the new lifestyle not the school

Make sure that party time does not take preference over study time. Also, make sure both parents and students understand the financial situation.

Make sure that you are looking at schools for the interest of the one who is attending the school not the parents, siblings, or friends. Many people who follow their siblings, boy/girlfriends, or parents to the school that they went to and most of the time that college is not for them. I feel if you do follow them you are also following their lead and don't get the chance to find yourself as a person and are unable to find your path through life. There are many possible schools out there and your selection should not be narrowed. Do research, take campus visits and talk to professors from colleges that interest you. Some students wait for the colleges to contact them but its the student who must intiate this contact if they want to get into the right college. Parents can also do this, give advise and insight on what they know to the student. Also think about the distance from home, many students do not realize how far away they are til they get there and it costs too much money for some to travel back and forth if it's not the school for them.

Apply to plenty of colleges, even ones that you may think are long shots. Apply for lots of scholarships. Don't go home for at least four months after you start. Try new things, hang out with people you normally wouldn't. Don't start seriously dating anybody too soon, and don't bother trying to keep an old boyfriend of girlfriend from high school.

Always look at the financial aid package. make sure this is where you want to go by doing a campus visit and get to know the proffesors .. all these things make it easy to cope with college ..

Don't pick a school that all of your friends are going to, pick a school that will allow you to meet many new people. Also, don't pick a school just because you like the way the campus looks, visit the school when classes are in session and talk to the students there, see what they think of the school and find out about the things that they don't like about that college, because the people who are showing you around will not tell you the bad things about the campus. Also, deside ahead of time wheather you desire to go to a large school or a smaller one, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Pick a school that is far enough away from home that it wont allow you to go home every weekend, but someplace close enough that you can get home if you really need to. Pick the school that is right for you, not the one your parents think is right, after all you are the one that has to live there for 8 months out of the year, and learn while you do it.

Finding the "right" college or university is one of the most important decisions when it comes to choosing your school. Through my own personal experience, I can say that I absolutely love my college. From the very moment I stepped foot onto campus, I immediately knew that I would have no problem spending the next four years of my life here. Ultimately, the first impression from a college visit will play an important role in your collegiate experience. Perspective students need to decide whether they want to be part of a large intitution, or a smaller, more personalized institution. Also, the perspective student needs to determine just how far away from home he or she wishes to be. Although college financial advisors will tell you that the cost of tuition should not be a factor in your school decision, the bottom line is that the bill has got to be paid. Remember though, there are always plenty of scholarships available, but only if you take the time to apply. Once accepted and attending a college or university, the key thing to remember is to get involved with various clubs and functions, but not at the expense of your accademic progress.

Parents, be prepared to let go of your son or daughter. They are branching out and still need your support, but you must let them make their own decisions. They may make mistakes, but my making their own choices, they can learn more for themselves. Students, branch out! Don't go with the "safe choice" college. I was the only one from my high school class that went to my college and, although it was scary, I have made such amazing friends. The rest of my high school graduating class all went to the same school, and still all hang out with eachother There are so many different people that you can meet, and there are so many things that you can learn from them. Make sure to keep an open mind and to listen to what people have to say. Everyone is different, but different does not necessarily mean bad. Take risks! You make memories by taking chances and doing things out of character. Be willing to laugh at yourself, and know that EVERYONE does stupid things. Finally, get involved! In college you meet so many amazing people and learn more about yourself than you ever could have imagined.

I would tell parents that they should try to let go of the vision of their children as their "little boy" and "little girl." They should try to let their children make their own decisions on the colleges they want to attend, and give their advice when warrented or needed. However, parents should also remember that their kids will need them for emotional support their first few years and should provide that support. Students should decide what factor is the most important when choosing the schools they want to go to, whether that factor be size, or distance from home, among other things. They should never let cost get in the way, as there are plenty of scholarships and financial aid for the students who need such help. Lastly, students should keep true to their beliefs while not being afraid of change. College is a perfect place for finding oneself, but a student must be open-minded for this to happen.

When choosing a college, be sure that it is the one that "clicks". I know that sounds silly, but you need to fall in love with a part of the school, whether it's the gymnasium where you'll spend a lot of time as an athlete, the music hall as a musician, or the lab as a scientist, make sure you'll love every minute you're in that area that you will spend most of your time in. It's also very good to know whether the people are friendly or not...take a minute to walk around campus on your own and get a feel for the kids there. I know when I walked around at Doane, I was AMAZED at all the people who walked by. Every single one of them would smile and greet me, like I was an old friend, even though I was a complete stranger. Feel at home, and research the school. Don't just use the internet or the school's official websites to get information, either. Be sure to ask alumni and people in the surrounding community what they think of the school as well. Love your new home.