Elon University Top Questions

My only advice is to go with your gut instinct. I applied to many colleges because I had to go through the application process and an audition process. The moment I stepped onto Elon's campus, I felt at home. I felt like I belonged there. I didn't feel that on any other campus. I had one school offer me a lot more than Elon did and I was very tempted, but in the end, I decided to go to Elon because I felt a real connection when I was there. Money is a prominent issue when deciding where to go to school, but I think the fact many people overlook is that you are deciding where to spend the next 4 years of your life. You have to love where you are. The more expensive school is worth it if you think you'll wake up every morning happy to be where you chose to be.

Go where you feel happy.

Important things to consider in choosing a school include visiting a variety of different schools, spending time with actual students of the school, and knowing what programs they offer. By visiting multiple schools, one can get a holistic picture of college life and how it differs according to campus. It will allow you to picture yourself spending four years there. Talking with students gives a decent indication of the type of people that you will be surrounding yourself with for a period of time. Knowing the programs and departments helps you better determine if the school offers the breadth and depth that you want and need in your education.

(I made a mistake. My GPA is a 3.6, not a 2.6, but I couldn't figure out how to go back and change it.) Tell your parents to back off some, try to pay your own way as much as you can (start growing up!), and major in something you love.

Make sure to visit the college. After visiting numerous schools (close to 20), I realized that they are never what you expect them to be. Every university has its own personality influenced by its location, students, faculty, history, etc., and though it may appear to be a fit on paper for your child, you can never be certain until they actually get to experience it. Your student will perform better and have an overall better quality of life if they know exactly what they are getting into prior to being thrown into the collegiate environment. Also, don't make decisions based on prestige. There are numerous up-and-coming schools that will soon surpass the schools that have the "elite" stereotypes. Do a little research and you will find schools that have more appealing price tags with similar or even better academic qualities.

Trust your kids

Be sure not to make a decision without visiting the campus and getting to know the area well. You need to be sure that the school and area are the best possible fit for you, after all you will be spending four critical years of your life there. Be open minded, but in the end go with your heart.

The most crucial part of finding the right college is exploring all of your options. It's important not to be pigeon-holed by either parents expectations or by where your friends are going. Look at some schools of all sizes. Figure out if you want to be in the city or the country (or somewhere in-between). Find a school that has the major you want, or if you don't know what major you want, find a school that has a lot of options (and will help you to find the right one)! Most of all, find somewherethat has an atmosphere where you will be comfortable. College is the time of your life will you will learn more about yourself than you ever had before. Its the time where you will develop personal characteristics that will form the basis of who you are as an adult: taking initiative, being responsible, and developing professional skills are just some examples of this. So as important as your school choice is, its equally important that you make the most of your college experience, because it will have a large influence on the adult that you develop into.

Parents and students need to make the choice that is best for the student, not the parents' wallet or ego. A lot of times families push students go to a certain school because of location, money, or family history; students will be much more successful if they make a decision for themselves instead of for their family. Make sure the school 'feels right.'

Make sure that you visit schools that you are interested multiple times during the academic year. Don't be embaressed about asking a ton of questions, about the academics and the social life at the school. Get a feel for what the place is like on the weekends, are the students doing the same things you enjoy doing on the weekend? When you first get to college be open to new things and new people. Let it be a growing period for you. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Work on good relations with your rommate right from the start. If you can sense that you're going to have unreconcilable differences, don't waste any time in getting a room change.