Drake University Top Questions

Visit, visit, visit - don't assume you'll only like one type of school, because you might just be surprised. Also, weigh the benefits of cost...financial aid is readily available, and more often then not, you can reach for the stars (as lame as that sounds). Don't let money stand in your way to going the distance.

The best advise is to visit a lot of colleges and talking to thefaculty to know what college would best fit the studdent. Students need to decide is they want a small, big or somewhere in between college. To make the most of college life is to try to have fun and try to get into some somecial activities, but at the same time not to go behind in the school work, because that might cost a student a scholarship. Do the school work before going out somewhere. Another important thing is not to drink too much cause they might make a fool of themselfs and everyone on campus would know, especially if its a small school.

I would advise students and prospective college students to visit the schools they are considering, if at all possible. My current school was not my first choice, and when I visited my first choice school I liked the campus, and the few people I met seemed nice, but I didn't love it. When I visited my current school, I knew right away- I just felt at home. The people were friendly and helpful and made an effort to remember my name and get to know me. Mostly though, it was just a feeling of comfort and belonging. I feel that for the most part, a school with your program of choice will be able to offer you a quality education. Academics are clearly a priority, but you will be living in this new environment for about four years- it is essential to feel happy and comfortable.

Know what it is you're looking for in a school, and even if you don't know, try to find somewhere that feels right to you. Look at both what the college has to say about itself and third party rating systems. Talk to non-tour guide students without and admissions or school official hanging over their shoulder. Choose the school that you feel is best for you, not the one that has the best reputation or the one everyone else thinks you should go to. And remember that while choosing a school is a big life decision, it isn't a permanent thing that you are stuck with for the next four years. Transferring is always an option, and then you'll be ablt to make an even more informed decision about what really matters to your in a college

I know junior/senior years of high school are stressful, so finding the right college seems like just one more thing to check off before you graduate. But, it really is worth it to invest a lot of time in finding a place you will grow academically and as a person. Before visiting schools, research them online and find out about their academic credentials. After all, you're going to an institution to gain an education, and you want it to be worth your money. Once you have a few in mind, campus visits are imperative to help you make the right choice. Ask lots of questions, about anything from the food to the housing. The students you meet have the best experience and opinions to give you, that a brochure cannot. If you feel like you could fit in and be happy, have a social life while succeeing academically, then you've found the place for you. Trust me, it is very worth your time to talk to as many students on the campus as possible to get the best picture of the schools you're considering.

I recommend going with your gut feeling when you're unsure about where to attend. Go somewhere you feel comfortable, but is also a little outside of your box. Being uncomfortable at first ended up being a fantastic experience for me and allowed me to grow and learn new things about myself including my abilities to engage others and make new friends.

Picking a college is a major event in a young adult?s life. Support is needed from parents and confidence is key for students. Parents, be supportive of your child?s college choices. Stand close by and be there when they ask for help but also allow them to make this decision on their own. Whatever or wherever your child decides to do just be supportive of their choice so they will also feel confident in there choice. Students, be confident in you self and decide to go to school where ever you dream of going. Please, don?t pick a school just because that is where half of your high school graduating class went. Going away to a school where you may not know anyone may sound scary, but I promise, it?s really not that bad. You have to be confident from day one. Be confident in your school of choice. When confident, it is easier to get along with others. Confidence in yourself will also make those first year road blocks go smoothly because you know who you are and what you want. Most importantly, students enjoy your time at college and make the most of it!

Look for a college that feels right. You need to visit! Don't pick a school without visiting first. Don't let money keep you away from a school you love. Financial aide is always available and you can't put a price on a great experience and a school which will prepare to be successful. Make sure that the college is prestigious in multiple programs...you may change your mind and you want to be somewhere which encourages you to really think about what you want to be and offers you options. Make sure you like the area or the city which your college is in and make sure the relationship between the school and the community is strong. Most of all, you need to feel at home when you step on campus and if you find out later on that its not the right fit, TRANSFER! College is the place to find who you are, to make the best friends of your life and to learn all that you can, so make the most of it!

Don't worry about what your high school friends are doing - find the right fit for yourself! Visit and explore college options as much as possible before making a decision. Don't worry about money, if you choose the right school you'll be able to pay off loans and debt with your great job you'll be landing because of your university!

Finding the right college is like picking out a new family pet. There is the rigerous process of finding the best qualities and ultimately finding a perfect addition. I say addition because each part is meant to compliment the other. A college that can encourage growth and instill lasting ideas of responsibility, independence, and happiness make worthy compliments to any person. The college-bound are owners--attached to predestined responsibilities if they want the most out of their ownership. They must know what kind of animal they own--turning a stranger into a friend. At first, it may be frightening and intimidating to tame. Fortunately, know it CAN be tamed with time and patience. It is all a matter of how much you give to it. If you open your personality, dreams, and uniqueness to it, it will welcome you with equal counterparts if not more. Furthermore, the bond that a college forms between student and school is a relationship. Each person gets in return what he/she gives. The right college gives a student a chance to own more than school spirit, but to tame what scares most people--their future.

Finding the right college should be seen as a journey. I traveled to schools all over the country before I selected Drake. When touring a school it's incredibly important to envision yourself walking those hallways and sidewalks, and to observe other students. Ask yourself, could this be my home? Could these be my friends? Talk your feelings over with friends or family as you tour different campuses, and when the feeling is right, you'll know which school to choose. When you finally move in and make that new place your home, put your best foot forward. After all, college is a place where you can be the most authentic version of you. It's a place where you get along with your friends, not because you're all from the same town like in high school, but because you understand each other on a much deeper level. After all they chose this place too! And they have so many great stories to tell. Put yourself out there. Try things you never imagined you would. See how far your drive and determination can take you. You'll be sure to surprise yourself at how far you can go.

I would say that you should go somewhere that challenges you; somewhere that brings you out of your comfort zone and puts you on a higher plane of learning. You should be happy but challenged. You should want to strive for more than just a basic understanding of facts and numbers, but come away with an appreciation of knowledge and thought. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you are there to experience, and you should pick some place that will provide the best environment for those experiences as possible.

My advice to parents/students is that you have to find a college that fits your personality. You also have to make sure that you pick a school that is going to give you the most experiances and growth possible. College is about learing and finding out who you want to be. It's about taking chances, making mistakes, and having fun. You, as a student, are responsible for making those things happen. But if you are willing to take the chance on going somewhere new, you will grow so much, and its the most rewarding feeling in the world.

I would say to make sure the college has everything YOU are looking for. Don't settle on a college because your friends are going there or because your parents went there or think that it is a great school. The most important thing is finding the best fit for yourself so that you are happy for the next four years of your life. I would tell parents to keep their input limited about which college their student should attend, because it is ultimately their decision and they are the ones that have to be happy there.

Do a lot of research about schools. Don't make any decisions about whether or not you'll like a school until you go and visit it. Get involved in what you love. Make time to study. Balance your studies with having fun. Get to know the people around you.

The advice that I would give parents and other students about finding the right college and making most of the college experience is to get fully involved. Get involved in the search for the right college early on and ask all the questions you can. Be sure to consider everything when making the final decision. Every college has its pros and its cons, but you need to determine which college's pros outweigh its cons for you. To make the most of the college experience, again, get fully involved. Pledge a social fraternity or sorority, join the international club, write for the campus newspaper, join a professional fraternity; just get involved and do something! The extracurricular activities you get involved in will make your college experience better than you could ever imagine. The friends you make in college are ones that you will hopefully have for the rest of your life. Immerse yourself in the experience and have fun!

In order to find the right college, a visit is essential. One can only learn so much from reading brochures and websites. Being on a campus allows a person to get a feel for the layout of their potential future. You can get a feel for the area surrounding campus, the people on campus, and the buildings. Having a spatial sense of where things are really helps to feel a personal connection with the area in question. Visits should include academic buildings, dining halls, and dorms. Look at recreational facilities, medical facilities, parking areas, and anything that you could see yourself using as a student. Making the most of college involves getting involved on campus. Whether this includes doing research with advisors or professors, joining environmental or other social groups, student senate, or working on campus, all of these things contribute to a positive undergrad experience. Meeting people is the key to success, because these are the people that you will be meeting for the rest of your life. The friends you make in college may not be your best forever, but allowing personal change to happen by exposure to new ideas is ideal.

Make sure you get a feel of a university's culture before you apply. Immerse yourself in everything, you will make friends and experiences that last a lifetime.

Visit a lot of schools, but only apply to a handful. Yes, looking for a school is stressful, but you will have fun, learn a lot and have a great time no matter where you go. Students: Once you are at school, be yourself. Don't change to "fit in". Find friends who like you for you. The college 'you' and the high school 'you' should not be noticeably different to you as a student. Also, call your parents. They do get worried and calling them with help them adjust and trust you more. Parents: Your student might not call as often as you'd like, but that's usually a good thing - it means they're having fun. If your student is calling a lot, I would suggest that they go out and have fun doing something. The first year can either be the hardest or the best.

Make sure you visit campus or do an overnight visit