Andrea
Make sure you apply to all different kinds of schools because you may think you know what you want, but in reality its not what you wanted at all. I personally thought i wanted to go to school in a city and be a city girl, so i went to Temple my first year. I realized a month into it that i didnt want to be there, there was nothing there for me and that i had to get out asap. I began researching again what would fit me, i wanted to find a school that was just like me, outgoing, but not obnoxious, smart, but not brainy, fun, but not wild. I found my perfect fit. Elizabethtown College! yes its expensive and sometimes i think that if i had the chance to do it all over, i probably would have gone to a cheaper, public school. But then i think about it some more and realize that, NO....Elizabetown is worth it! i really dont think theres anything like it. It is one, it is unique.
Mollie
When choosing a college, I think the most important thing to do is to choose a place where you will feel comfortable. For most teenagers, it will be the first time in their life they will be living out on their own without their parents around. If they choose somewhere thats too large, they may be overwelmed with all the new people they meet. Also if a students choose a smaller school, they may be dissatisfied by many of the things offered to them on campus. It's mostly about choosing what you believe will make you happy. In the end, you may make the right choice or you may make the wrong one. However, once you are there you should attempt and make the best out of your situation. and become involved in many activities on campus. Also, you will never make it through college without friends so go out and make many new friends. Whether or not you have anything in common, you will help each other grow as a person and be there for each other as you go through this somewhat difficult change in life.
Jordan
Chose first by desired distance from home and then size. Visit both large and small schools. Facebook is a great way to meet people in your dorm before school starts. Start a facebook group with the such as "freshmen of Ober residence hall" then people join and you can chat.
Steven
Go to the college and visit/tour, you'll know when you've found the right place
Kristin
I think the most important thing is getting an early start; but also important is planing out courses/majors that you will need to think about so that there is less changing things at the last minute. Many things that I know I want to do take money so parent approval is a must first.
Allison
Don't be pressured by what other people are doing. In the end, where you go or who you go with does not matter; you make your own college experience. If you want to succeed, then you must put the time and effort in, and work for it. Alternatively, if you want to be more popuar and have fun while still being prepared for the working world, it's up to you to make that balance happen. No matter where you go, this is true, so don't think going to an Ivy league school is the only way to be taken seriously, or vice versa; don't think that just because someone got into a really high-ranked private school that they're automatically better than you. Everyone is different and has their own strengths. Just go with what your strengths are. Don't worry about anything else. In the long-run, you will be happier if you are true to yourself. Don't try to be something just because of the money or because what your parents want you to do, etc. If you are true to yourself, this is enough to carry you through the toughest times.
Benjamin
Visit all the colleges you applied to and try to do an overnight visit to get a true feeling of the school
TaLisa
visit the school campus
Amy
Visit plenty of schools to figure out what kind of school you want to go to, and be sure to do an overnight while you're there. Check out the food, make sure you'll want to eat it every day for 4 years, because eating bad food for 4 years is not fun at all. Figure out how much money you are able to spend and figure out what you can afford.
When you get to school, make sure you balance your time. Do well in your studies, but make sure you spend enough time making friends and having fun because college has the potential to be the best 4 years of your life, so make plenty of memories and make them last!
Christine
I would say to them to remember that the college is a business. They have friendly students give tours and overnights are with friendly people. If you are a high schooler looking, more times than not the students on campus will be nicer than they are. the college is out to make money and have good marketing tricks to get you to come to their college
Caitlin
Think long and hard about the cost of your education compared with the availability of your major: don't go to an expensive private school when you can get a liberal arts degree most anywhere. Graduating with a degree in education and $80,000 in debt isn't worth it. State schools offer excellent programs for a fraction of the cost of their private counterparts.
Amanda
Go on a tour of the school and do a stay over. It will give you the best experience with seeing how you feel about actually being there. Don't be afraid to make lots of new friends. Sometimes the ones you make at the beginning of the semester aren't the best ones for you, and you may feel lost. By having other friends, you can find where you fit and really enjoy your time.
Samantha
Visit all your choices more than once, and not only on perspective student days. You'll feel the fit when you are on the right campus
Katie
Finding the right college may seem like a daunting task, but don't get too overwhelmed. There are hundreds of colleges and universities out there, and each cater to a different crowd. Be sure to identify colleges that will match your needs. Think about what your priorities are for your education, and what characteristics you?re looking for in a school. Consider cost, location, size of the student body, strength of the curriculum and availability of extra-curricular activities. Use sites such as Collegeboard.com to compare. Staying over night at a prospective school is the best way to see if it?s a good fit for you. Once you decide on a college, be sure to immerse yourself in a variety of activities and take advantage of everything they offer.
Kate
I would suggest talking with students who are not being paid to give tours or represent the college. They will be able to give you a realistic idea of what the college is really like. They can give you both sides of the story whereas college employed students may only present one side. My advice to students is to really think about what YOU want out of college, not your parents or anyone else. College is about gaining an education to enhance career opportunities. You have to be true to yourself and really figure out what you plan on pursuing after college.
Michael
STAY OVERNIGHT before making your decision. You can get a lot of information about a college from staying overnight, and getting an overall sense of how it would feel for you to be attending that school. Visit multiple times, if you can. Try to go on a day when the college isn't schmoozing you with food, gifts, or other things, such as on an open house day. Visit on a regular day to see what really goes on.
Sam
Start the search early, and take the time to carefully consider each college. It's where you'll be living and learning for the next four years. Make the most out of every day- take the chance to explore on your own, make new friends, join clubs, get a job, study real hard but have fun. Take nothing for granted.
Allyson
Look at as many colleges as possible and have an idea of what you want in a college. You do not need to visit every single college, just look online and ask friends or others about it. When you find the right college, you will know. Try to let the student choose where to attend and not where the parent wants them to go. It is better if they go where they want because then they will have a more positive experience.
Brittany
College is a life experience. It is not solely an academic institution, a career preparation, or a social experience, rather a combination of all three. I think the biggest mistake that parents and students make when searching for a college is focusing on one of those aspects and not the big picture. Yes, the academic reputation of a school is important, but if students do not feel comfortable in or are not satisfied with their environment they are likely to have that affect their grades. A student who chooses to go to the same college as a friend, or significant other may find themselves at an institution that does not offer the major they desire. Parents and students need to look for colleges that fulfill the needs of the student in all three areas and not just one.
Jonathon
Just go with the college that you just feel right on when you visit and talk to the people on campus. Make sure the school is reasonable with their cost and financial aid, however. You do not want to be paying back student loans for the rest of your life. Small class sizes is also very important to direct your education in a way that is most beneficial for you. Also, try and have as much fun as possible while not going too crazy and getting in trouble--it really is one of the best times of your life.