Drew University Top Questions

I would tell myself to appreciate the free time and the short days! I came well prepared from high school as I took all International bachelorette classes. As a science major I feel like I came in prepared and was happy to start my college studies. So far I have had a terrific experience at Drew University and have fallen in love with all the courses that are available to me. What I would tell any student who is coming in from high school into college is that they should explore and enjoy all the new courses and resources that the college provides. It is really worth it to try different things and figure out what career to follow and what jobs or internships to take. A plan ahead of time is always a good thing to have, but one never knows what kind of course will inspire them to change their mind and their future.

Not getting into your first choice will not end your world, you are going to meet your best friend and love of your life just be open. And PLEASE for the love of god get some sleep while you can.

My advice to students is as follows: find a campus where you are immediately comfortable, but also one where you can see yourself still feeling comfortable in 4 years. What may be the best fit now, might be too small in 4 years. Find something that will hold your interest for your entire experience and provide the best experience possible. You will know as soon as you set foot on campus whether or not the campus is right for you. My advidce to parents is this: listen to your children. If he or she has an immediate reaction one way or the other about a specific campus, keep that in mind when he or she is making the final decision. Let him or her choose a campus for what he or she wants, not what you never had the chance to experience. You have to let them make the decision. The place they choose is where they will be living for the next four years and it is one of the bigger decisions they will make in their lives to date. If they choose wrong, they can transfer. Nothing is permanent, but let their voice be heard.

Go with how a school makes you feel. It should feel open and warm and fun. It should be safe. It should feel like a place where you feel like you are a part of a community.

To find the right college you need to really break down everything that you know about yourself and write it down on a piece of paper. You need to revise this list and find out what you really want, because that's one of the major problems with students applying and attending schools. Majority of kids when they turn 18 or 19 and are applying to college don't even know what they want to study, and end up changing majors, transfering, etc. This problem is good because it can help you really find what you want to learn about and do for the rest of your life as an occupation, but it can as well financially hurt you in the long run when you have to pay off college loans.

There are so many colleges to choose from and it is essential to know what you are looking for in a college because every campus will be different. The first thing to review is the radius and location of the colleges you are looking at. The second thing you should look into is how big or small the campus is and how many students attend the college. Visit a college when the students are not on a break and not on a specific open house day so you can really see what a day is like on the campus and how the students interact. My first suggestion when starting college and at orientations is to be opened to new people. In order to have a great college experience, an incoming freshman has to be involved whether it is in sports, clubs, activities, volunteering, or events on campus. What also has to be understood when going into your freshman year of college is that the first year will be difficult, but you must keep a positive attitude through the first year because life at college will get better as time goes on and you make friends and develop a routine.

Choose the college where you feel most at home, both in terms of the social atmosphere and the physical campus. Find the environment where you truly want to live for the next four years. Spending an overnight with a current student is a great way to gain first-hand experience of what life at this college will be like. Consider how approachable professors are, and of course the academic programs that are available to you, because the focus of college is academics after all. Also carefully consider the extra-curricular activities that are available to you because they are a great way to pursue your passions and develop the skills you will need to succeed in the professional world. The four years you will spend in college are most importantly a time for a great amount of personal growth, becoming an adult, gaining an understanding of yourself and what you want for your future profession. It is a time to make friends that can last a lifetime. You need to find an environment where you can make those friends and feel supported as you pursue your academic and extra-curricular goals.

Sometimes the first choice college is never the right one. The college finds you, you don't find the college. If I went to a college that fit my top choice description, I would never have been able to have travelled to South Africa, become Captain of the Swim Team, or even become an active member in the Student Government Association. Its best to let the college fall into your lap.

Your college years will hopefully be some of the best of your life, and you will always look back on this experience. It's important to find the school that really fits your own personality and goals, instead of trying to get into the school with the biggest reputation that you can find. Visit as many schools as you can, and don't be afraid of the students! Ask if the school offers an overnight stay and class observation with a current student, and talk to the students and see how they like the school. Students love to share their opinions, so you'll probably get some really honest answers. You want to find a school where you can identify with the students, and where you really feel like it can be your home for four years. Once you find that campus environment where you really click, go out there and get involved! The best way to have a memorable experience and make great friends is to find an organization or cause that is truly meaningful to you. When you spend time with people who care about the same issues that you do, you're bound to make great friends.

Finances are obviously of greatest concern when making that all-important decision of which college to attend. However, find a school that has great resources that will help you to get a good job post-graduation. Look for programs like studying abroad, internships, career resources centers, and things like that. A liberal arts education is not half bad either, because as the leaders of tomorrow it's important to have a comprehensive appreciation for all fields of education. Do your research! Find out what kind of degrees and past experience faculty members have within their field. Is the study body a bit to crowded for youe liking? To small? All these factors ought to be weighed in before making that final decision. In addition, always try to find a college in your home state becuase that will save you tons of money.