Franklin and Marshall College Top Questions

Parents, let you students choose the college which is right for them. In the long run, the undergraduate university does NOT matter. Don't push you child into a school because YOU believe that it fits them. Let them be where they need to be. Please, Please, Please support them throughout the application process. Let you know that you love them and that wherever they choose to go to school is ok with you. I think that the one thing parents should know is the amount of pressure that students put on themselves with college admissions. The competition out there is ugly and it is only getting worse. Don't be another source of pressure. Ask your kids if they need any help. Just being there lets them know that you care. And once they are at college...Don't be the helicopter parent. (If you don't know the term, google it). Students, Once the admissions process is done and behind you, you are in for the best ride of you life! My advice is to choose the college where you feel most comfortable. Big names mean nothing in the long run.

To make sure you visit a few colleges before settling on just one. It's good to get an idea of what other colleges are like, as well as the differences between smaller and bigger universities that offer completely different styles of teaching.

It is extremely important to search for the college that is right for the individual. Although this piece of advice is well-known and somewhat chiche, I have learned through my time at college that you must stay true to yourself. Although an individual should be open to the possibility of change for the enhancement of their mind, body, and soul, it is essential to always remember who you are. The adjustment to college life will be hard for some while easy for others, but with the help and support of family and friends, you can survive anything. At times you will second guess your career choice, your future, and even your own identity, but each of these questions will only make you stronger in the end. When we stumble along the path to succees, we not only learn from the way we fell, but also from the way we were able to stand back up and continue on, refusing to give in the cracks and bumps along the way. Always remember your past, your loved ones, your persistence, and your desire to follow your dreams. No ne can stop you from achieving greatness.

In order to find the right college, you must first get to know yourself. It is important to figure out the type of person that you are so that you know what you like and you know what to look for in an institution. Once you have diagnosed the type of person you are, the type of environment you prefer to live and work in, and the type of environment that you prefer to learn in, make a list of colleges or universities that match your preferences. Online college finding programs are very helpful, especially if you are new to the process. Once you have generated a list of schools, visit as many as you can, taking tours, listening to information sessions and talking to students on the campuses. If you were previously unsure about the type of college you wanted to attend, visit different types of schools to give you a better feel. Visits will give you a much better feel for the campus, college life and whether or not you actually like the school. Colleges are different in person than they are on paper, so visits are the best wasure to ensure you get the best experience.

There is absolutely no better experience in making a college decision than visiting the schools in which you're interested. While there, try and look past all the bright lights and glamour that the admission office throws at you to entice you to apply, and instead talk to the students and gain their prospective on the college. For the most part, they'll give you a candid answer - After all, they're the ones who are truly living the college experience. After you've selected the college that you're going to attend, be optimistic about the school, but not naive. Know that each campus has it's flaws, and that most of the time the challenges the college presents can be used to your advantage - view each experience as a chance to learn something new about yourself and your environment.

Really visit the campus and talk to students to make sure the social scene is right for you. Also, don't underestimate being close to home because a lot of people want to stay close to their friends from home even if they love school.

When it comes to selecting a college, it's truly not about the quality of the food or what the dorm rooms look like. In the long run, you are bound to discover that an unplanned, hour-long discussion with a professor about your mutual love of good chinese food or a class that you never want to leave will make you feel more at home than a nice room. The prospective student must remember that your school becomes your home, and like your actual home, it's mostly the things you do there and the people you know there that make it a good fit for you. So try to select a school that caters exactly to your academic interests, the level of interaction you want with professors, and your social and extracirricular needs. Once you get there, try something you will genuinely like, whether it be a major or club. Don't try to force an activity or class just because you think it's what's best. Go with your heart and you will find your niche.

Choose a school that best fits the students career goals.