Dina
If I could give parents and students advice about choosing the right college i would have to say do not wait until the last minute to research colleges. To get the best college experience you need to start researching early, around sophomore year of high school. You should research the school websites and websites, websites that include ratings and ratings from students who attend the school. Remember to always visit the school before you accept, It may look completely different in the picutures. Be sure to do the research on campus saftey especially if living on campus. Dont be afraid to email or message students on sites such as myspace or facebook to get their oppinions on the school they attend, it is the best way to get the inside scoop. Most upperclassmen will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and you might even make a friend.
Maria
College is a stage in life where a person finally on their own. Its a time to grow up, and to also work and play hard. But its very important to remember how to balance the working and playing hard. Its a popular belief that the 4 high school years determine one's future, but if you did great in high school, do not believe that you are done . For those who did ok in high school, do better in college, because how you do in college will really determine your future job. The ages of 18 through 22 or 23 are very significant. At 18, one is finally an adult, and at 21 one is finally allowed to legally go out and drink. Its the last 4 years one has where your an adult but without all of its serious responsibilities such as finding a job, paying the bills, etc. For the parents, I would just inform them that if their son or daughter experiences mood swings, to cut them some slack because its a lot of pressure, but very once in a while, its also healthy to maintain a good social life.
dieulune
I would advice parents or students to take tours and ask as many questions possible about the college. The reason why is because
the student has to be comfortable and happy where they are attending school, or else they will not perform to their best ability
Stephanie
Spend a weekend there with real college students (not the orientation guides) to get a real feel of the college.
Lauren
I would say to spend at least one year living on campus so you can engage with the students and on campus activities. Always visit the campus before you enroll to make sure you feel comfortable and speak with people in admissions to get a feel of how the college operates. I would also reccommend reading course discriptions in the major of your choice to see how colleges differ and what sounds more interesting. I attended three colleges before I found the one that I truely enjoyed so I know how hard it is to find the right one. It is important to do your research and their are some great websites that have information on colleges from the size of classes to the environment. Financial aid, overall, is not difficult to find, but you may have to do some research and work; there is always aid for someone that needs it. Keep up with your work and study! Remember that this is important that you like where you are because it can influence your progress in school. As long as you do the research, I am sure you will find the right school.
Kevon
When looking for a college, selct the one that has the most campus activities and student involvment. The first couple of semesters can be difficult without the help of your fellow classmates.
Dewey
Finding the right college begins with knowing what you are looking for in a college. First, if the college has a respected department in the field you intend on studying. Also look at the campus life of the college and decide if that is what you are looking for out of your college experience. Do you like the cold? Climate and location play a large part of your decision as well the surrounding environment. Remember that you will have to live at or near your college, so if you hate the city or love to watch the leaves change you need to remember this.
Once you are at college make as many friends with as many different people as you can. Surround yourself with people who will make you a better person. Get involved with the on campus clubs, and if there isn?t one you like start your own. Create the environment that you want your college life to be and the rest will just fall into place.
Sydney
Look around. Dont be set on one school. Know that there are so many different places to go. Visit and spend a weekend at a school you are interested in so you can get a real feel for it. Dont be shy. Find activities at school that you are interested in and meet people who inspire you!
Christina
Before finding the right college, it is important that students weigh the importance of balancing a social community and academics. Make sure that the outlying community has enough options to allow students to get off campus. It is important to have an outlet from school and if the community is not geared for students then life can get monotonous. Also make sure that the college has a strong correlation with passing entrance exams to get into graduate programs and accepted to schools.
Alana
Do research for the curriculum one wants to be molded for.
Laura
I would just tell them to appreciate the oppurtunity to expand your knowledge. Not everyone can afford to take that next step and get the college experience. It is something that should be taken seriously and appreciated. The college experience is not partying, it is learning.
Pearline
As a parent my self I would like to tell parents / students who are interesting in finding the right college to look for the diversity in the school population. In addition, make sure the college not only strive for academic excellence in student who are highly motivated but also try and help those who need some motivation. College is a big step for everyone regardless of their background. As a mother of three, going back to college at 38 was not easy, however, the patients and understanding of the faculty was most helpful in facilitate me to excel. This fall I will graduate with my bachelor and move on to graduate school in the spring.
khristian
Put all your effort into schoolwork, but don't forget to have fun too.
Jenny
Dreams can come true, they have for me. It has not been easy, but my dreams for being a college graduate will become true shortly, and I owe that to hard work and perseverance. I also feel that a key point to succeed is to do what you love. I aboslutely love science and this particular college has a great pre-med program taught by doctors in their specific fields, guaranteeing that I am getting the best education out there. Choosing a place that offers great quality professors in a field that the student loves is a key factor to make the student want to strive for their best and reach every goal.
Hailey
Let the choice of college be your own, do not let it be influenced by your friends and family. Look at many different schools and choose the one you feel is right for you. Also learn you limitations fast. So many people are unsuccessful because they have too much fun. Fun I a neseccary part of college, we all need stress relievers, just be careful.
GO TO CLASS!
Lauren
Parents and students should intensively research universities and their pros and cons. It is imortant to find a college that offers the programs that the student wants to study. Things that you should focus on are tuition and other expences, but also campus visits in order to get a feel for life at the university. Details like wether or not the student would like to participate in extra-ciricular activities or study abroad or athletic programs are equally important.
In oder to make the best of your college experience the student should become involved because college is what you make of it. If you don't participate in any school activities then you are bound to feel home sick or board and overall unhappy. If you enjoy foreign language clubs or intramurals it is important to join them. The experiences will help you to make friends and relate to people who have the same interests as you do.
Laura
Education is the most important aspect of anyone's life. A lot of thought is to be put when choosing an university, depending on what the future universitary student interests' are, different schools may look more appealing. I haven't lived on campus but for what I've heard, It is better to stay in the quietness of home. I would also tell students that partying can be done later in life instead of going out everyday and lowering the GPA. You only get one shot in life and you want to take advantage of those little opportunities life throws at us!
Arlene
The ultimate goal of college is to get the best education possible. In order to assure this, you should really look into the school's course catalog and ask questions about course offerings and how many students finish on time. It is also helpful to talk to people who are current stduents at the college you're looking into. Admissions offices are just recruiters, watch out for their sales pitches and talk to people who actually experience the school in the way that you will.
Anthony
the first thing to consider when choosing the right college for you is to research on which schools provide the most education and are noted to be the best schools for the area of degree that you might be seeking. Make sure you are able to afford the college you are applying for so you dont have to work so much to pay tution and concentrate more on your studies and sociel life. If you want to get the most out of your experirnce in school get involve in the campus activities play intermural sports, join clubs etc.. do anything to go out there and meet people.
Mark
The advice I would give parents and /or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to find a college that offers many opportunities and that no matter where you attend, to focus on each experience instead of the goal of graduating to start a career.
The college experience is a journey to find yourself by learning about your passions and how they fit into your future. If a college does not offer a variety of educational and other options, you may not have the experiences which lead you to a true personalized education.
It?s easy to think of going to college as a means to an end but, the best pieces of advice I can give is ?Seize the moment?, pay attention, and be present. If you go into the experience with an open mind, you will allow yourself to grow to your potential.
So, as you can see, I truly believe the best advice to parent and students about finding the right college and making the most out of the college experience is to not limit yourself and go into it with ?Eyes wide open!?