Elizabethtown College Top Questions

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.