Georgetown University Top Questions

Trust your heart. Education is one of the most important things in the world, no matter the cost, the money, or the distance. Sure, tuition these days is sky-high, but in the end, it really is worth it. There's nothing better than feeling at home on your campus, finding new friends with similar interests and ideals, learning from experienced professors, and having a whole world of opportunities right at your fingertips. As they always say, your college years can be the best years of your life... if you let them be. Follow your dreams, step out of your comfort zone, and don't be afraid. But remember, even if you can't get into your first choice, you can always find happiness, wherever you go. You don't have to worry about the name of the school and how good its reputation is. Those things may be a plus, but you will be happy anywhere, I promise. I wish you the best of luck!

You have to go visit the school for yourself before you make the final decision. There is a large disparity between hard facts and numbers and the general "feel" of a school. When you visit the right school, it will just "click" with you--that's what happened to me. When you get to college, make sure to keep an open mind. If you can work hard and play hard, then do both, but you don't want to have to look back after 20 years into the future, wishing your college experience had been different.

Search for schools that have a variety of opportunities you are interested in. This can be academic, extracuricular, job elated, or athletic. The more opportunities available, the more you will be able to find something you love. Once at school take time to seek out diffrent activities and meet many people. Being involved makes you feel a prt of the school and making new friends helps with the transition process.

On a drizzly morning last spring, I was giving an impromptu tour of my university to a family friend. When we stepped inside a building to escape the rain, the student's father asked me if college was everything I thought it would be. My first impulse was to tell him how much I loved my school, how attending it had made me a fuller, more thoughtful person as it certainly has. But I hesitated. For, loyal though I am to my home university, I know that there are many such extraordinary universities. What makes one's college experience memorable is not the school you attend but what you do with your time there. My Dad once told me: "make a decision and proceed as if your choice is the right one." As arbitrary as college admissions sometimes seem, the idea of a dream school is a dangerous one. Regardless of where you are accepted, rejected, or waitlisted, the school you ultimately choose is the right one for you; you make it such in choosing it. And if you let it, your university, whatever one that may be, will change and shape you just as you will shape it.

I would advise students to tour a variety of different colleges and take note of the many things that vary between them: class size, urban vs. rural settings, the types of clubs on campus, etc. Be sure to sit in on classes and get a feel for the size you like best. Most importantly, after you have done this research sit down and really examine yourself. I was displeased with the first college I attended; a large state school, close to home. I had really wanted to head east (but chickened out), and within the first quarter I regretted my decision. My first school showed me that I wanted a smaller school with a close rknit sense of community and a larger variety of off-campus opportunities. Confident in my new criteria I chose Georgetown University and loved my years there. Although nervous to transfer, the welcome program was inviting and I felt at home within the first week. My advice, then, is to know yourself and don't worry yourself into a rash decision! College is a big decision, but not of life or death proportions and transferring IS an option if you are unhappy with your first choice.

I think the biggest things for me is both location and size. You have to know what type of environment you are most comfortable in. I knew, for example, that I could not go to a school in a rural area. I like being mobile. I'm sure in a rural setting you could just get a car but that limits the number of people that can travel and there is also the issue of parking. Not to mention the cost of gas now, public transportation is a lot cheaper. Size, in terms of students, was a big issue because I like to develop personal relationships with people and my professors are no different. I have a number of professor that I can just go and talk to about what's going in my life because we were able to develop personal attachements. Some Professors I've only had one class with but we still keep in touch. At a large school where there are a million people I think it would be hard and intimidating to try and create such a close personal relationship.

Consider all aspects of the university of choice. There is a school - a "perfect fit" - for everyone but it requires time and research. Make the most of your college experience by exploring all the opportunities outside of class - get involved in the community, join a club, play a sport, or get a job. Every campus has unique opportunities through which you can meet other students and make new friends. BE YOURSELF. There are so many different personalities on each campus ? never compromise your values or beliefs. If you are uncomfortable with a situation, speak up. Your friends will respect your opinions and if they do not, then they are not worth having in your ?inner circle.? Study hard but make sure you also take time to relax. Take a walk or go for a run ? being outside will help take your mind off your studies and is a perfect break. Have fun but do not lose sight of your goals. It is absolutely possible to have a "balanced" life so work hard, eat smart, and smile! You did it!

When choosing the university you are going to attend, be sure that you give the appropriate value to the different aspects of a university. Aspects that are important to consider are academics, availability of you major of interest, prestige, alumni involvement, school area, size of school, amount of students per class, among others. You need to make sure you do not let the fame a university might have, opaque your necessities and what you want out of your college years You might be chosen at a school that is more renown than another, but perhaps, is not the right fit for you. When choosing a university, you have to be objective and really ask yourself what you want and expect from you college experience. The important thing is not to be influenced by outside sources such as friends, boy/girlfriends, parents, regarding which college you should go to because of their attendance there. The decision of what college to go to is very personal and should be made with constant communication with you parents, since they will want the best for you and they will also be the ones financing your education. Be objective and the choice should be right!

If you visit a college and it doesn't feel right, don't choose it. Also, know that colleges try to make their campus seem like it is better than it is. You will hear a lot of the good things that the college has to offer, but they will not mention the bad things. Also, they might exaggerate some of the details. If you can, take a college tour but ask a real student questions about the school (not a tour guide) and see what they have to say. Also, consider the community surrounding a college. If there is only a small town, make sure the college offers many clubs and activities so the student won't grow bored. Lastly, remember that classes are held mostly during the winter months. If buildings are far away from each other and the college is up north, the weather might make the student miserable.

Although it is important to find a school that fits your preferences (location, size of school, majors offered etc), the most important factor in choosing a college that you will enjoy is the atmosphere on campus: how the students relate to each other, to their studies, and to the world around them. A few good questions to ask yourself are: Do I "fit in" here with the student population? Do we have the same attitude towards our studies and our social lives? Do we have similar opinions or beliefs or philosophies of life? Do I think I could make lots of friends here? Although it's always good to have diversity within a college community, it's important that you feel like you could relate to the other students. That's why the college decision is such a personal one: students need to find colleges that fit their personalities, not just their requirements.