Emory University Top Questions

I think you always have to keep an open mind when entering college. It's a big step and a huge adjustment. Make sure to use the reseources you have, such as friends and family, because that's your best bet to really easing yourself into the change. Any decision you make, really stick to it and see how you can integrate yourself into the school rather than forcing the school to mesh with you.

Definately go and visit the school. Stay with someone in their dorm or apartment for and extended time (at least 2-3 days) to really get a feel of campus life. Open House weekends are great to get information about the school, but to really be able to picture yourself there, go during a regular weekday/weekend and talk to as many people as you can. You will be able to feel if you can see yourself there or not for the next four years of your life.

Go where you want and put your heart into it.

I've learned from advice and my own experiences, that wherever you end up going to college will just feel right. You'll find a niche, maybe not in the first semester, but you will find one. And you'll find friends, because every freshman is in the same boat at the beginning of the year; everyone needs to make new friends, and usually jumps at the chance to have someone to sit with in the cafeteria. To get the most from the college experience I would encourage students to try everything: new classes that just sound interesting, different sports, different clubs, volunteering, rushing and possibly joining a fraternity or sorority. All these things can only be done in college. The most important thing is to just get out there and be available to meet new people on the campus. Eventually, you'll click with someone or something, and everything will fall into place. It's an incredibly scary first step to leave the comfort and safety of your home and family and friends, but you'll grow so much that first year and your independence and self-sufficiency will be so much greater. I know mine is.

To find the right college, I believe that the student should visit the campus as soon as possible in order to get a feel for the size and atmosphere of the school. When I was applying for colleges, I thought that I wanted a small liberal arts school, so I applied to mostly schools that fit that description. However, when I ended up visiting the campuses of these colleges, I realized that they were too small for me. So, once my acceptances came in, I really did not have much to choose from for colleges and was left wondering if I could have made a better choice. One of my other deep regrets about college is that I didn't get involved in more extracurricular activities earlier on. There were so many activities that I wanted to do, like research or volunteering, but I often gave excuses not to participate. Now, as a junior, I wish that I had taken advantage of more of these opportunities earlier on. I advise all students to seize the day by taking advantage of the academic, extracurricular and social activities that college has to provide as soon as possible.

Going to college is a life changing experience; there are many factors that should be taken into consideration. Make sure you have enough money to afford the college of your choice because it is difficult to truly enjoy college if there is a mountain of debt waiting for you after graduation. Student loans are extremely helpful but try not to completely depend on them. Location is also a key factor. If you move out-of-state, prepare to be separated from your support system. The transition to college can be difficult when you are surrounded by unfamiliar things. Another vital aspect to finding the right college is to visit it. It can look amazing on paper, but it might not feel like the right place if you visit. Talk to students and faculty to get an idea of what life would be like there. You might be surprised to find that it would have been a horrible choice. Last and most importantly, could you see yourself being happy there? College needs to be a great experience because you only go once so make the most of it and make sure you can do that with wherever you decide to go.

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a college is that any college can be the "right" college. I do not fit the stereotype of an Emory student, but with time, I still found my place. I have been taught by world-class professors and have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I did not join a sorority like most of the girls I knew, but instead found my own clubs and interests such as Outdoor Emory and Emory EMS. College is about personal growth, both socially and educationally. It is most students first time away from home, and can be lonely, so developing friendships is more important than it was in high school. College is the time to discover what interests you most and to learn as much about it as possible. College offers many new areas of study to explore that many high schoolers had not though of before. At any college there will be good professors and students to be friends with. It is all about finding your place within the school. Every college has something to offer, so whatever school is chosen will be the "right" college, given enough time.

Keep an open mind. Let yourself try things you never thought you'd let yourself do. Don't get in a relationship right off the bat, and just relax and don't fall behind in classes.

If fiscally possible, try visiting it and staying there for a night. Read up as much as you can about not only the education you will recieve but the type of life you will be living. It is important to have fun and live in a comfortable setting because without this, it can become very difficult to suceed. Learn about what type of people attend the schools you are looking at. Find out if they are career oriented, school oriented etc. Make sure that you are going to a school that will help you find out what you want to do in life and if you already know what you want to pursue, make sure you attend a school that is good at teaching what you want to learn. Make sure that you are attending a school that you will be proud of ten years from now, not only because of the quality of education but becuase of the strides they are making in the global community. Finally, make sure that you are attending a school that can help you in finding a job of proffesional school once you leave your undergrad school.

Finding the right college can be a daunting task, and with all the options out there it?s really difficult to know where to start. It is important to find a college that fits your personality. College is like dating. You can always see yourself working well with someone, but its not until you meet "the one" that you realize you have found the person for you. Searching for college mirrors the same process. There are a lot of universities that would be a good fit. However, its not until you discover the immediate comfort and energy of a university that you know you've found the place for you. Start off by looking at the basics. Is it academically challenging? Does the college offer what you are interested in? What is the social atmosphere? Do you get the sense that the college is working to improve and advance in its fields of specialty? Once you have narrowed down the list go and visit. There's no better way to get a feel for a school than by sitting in on classes and soaking up the extra-curricular atmosphere. Don't be unsure of your choices...be excited to dive into your college experience, wherever that may be.