Grand Valley State University Top Questions

The process of finding the right college is different for everyone. Above all, I think that parents and students alike need to understand the individual needs and desires of the impending college student. The student needs to know what he or she wants out of the college experience and then pursue that unabashedly. College is a time to learn about who you are and who you want to be, therefore to choose a school based on name, prestige, or the opinions of friends and family cannot be the highest priority. Students need to include other people in the process of course, but the ultimate decision must lie with the student. Visit different campuses. Talk to current students at the universities. Ask a lot of questions. Research what the school and the surrounding area offer as extracurricular activities and entertainment. In the end, a student should fall in love with a college or university. By being honest with what he or she wants, doing the homework to find the school that matches that, and discussing options with trusted loved ones, anyone can have the college experience of their dreams.

The advice that I would give to parents/ or students is to look wat first what programs are offered. This is the most important aspect of a school. Pursuing a degree in what you love is most imporant, epecially if you want to do it as a job for the rest of your life. I the student is not used a huge campus of being around a lot of people, I would look at the campus size, not only does this lessen the "shock" value of going to a huge campus, the tuition prices may also be lower; which is good in the finacial area.

I would tell them that it is important to tour the campus to get a good feel about whether or not that college is right for you. If you love where you are, there's less chances of getting homesick and really having a great college experience. Try not to let money issues matter, because if it's where you want to be, you can find a way to make it happen. Get involved, I know you hear that all through high school, but the same goes for college! Don't just spend all of your time in your own dorm room! Leave the door open one day and see how many new faces you can meet! College is simply the best time of your life where you will make friends that will last you a lifetime.

First of all I would tell them to visit the colleges that they are looking at attending, and find someone that goes there. Talk to that person about the pros and cons of the school. Also, finding out if the school is liberal or consevative would help in the decision making process. Finally, look at the class sizes, teaching ablility and overall rate of success after graduation. Oh yeah, look at the extra curricular activities too!

I would suggest that you go and visit the college campus before choosing a college. Make sure to consider the scholarships you would receive from each of the schools. Also, try to make friends throughout your entire college experience. If you do not make friends then you will be very stressed staying in a doing homework all the time and not doing anything fun.

My advice to you is to research a lot of different colleges and universities before making a final decision. Personally, I was set on going to a particular school until I visited a few times. I had a great experience the first time I visited and I went back again a second time just to make sure this was what I wanted and had a completely different view and decided it wasn't the right place for me. Remember, this is a big decision, so keep your options open. Apply for more scholarships than you think you should. They get tedious, but they are worth it in the end. Also, it is ok to come into a college not knowing what or who you want to be in the future. A lot of people are in the same boat as you. Get involved, join a club or intramural team, and try not to worry. Enjoy where you are right now but look ahead to the future and have a positive attitude!

The best thing to do is to look at a variety of different schools and campuses and find the one that is right. If that campus is 500 miles from home, then it's 500 miles from home, and if it's only 20 miles from home, it's 20 miles from home. If an education is important, a little extra drive is worth what will come of the education from that school. It may take eight or ten applications and visits to find the right school, but once you find that special school, all the work is worth it.

I would tell students like myself that these are the best four years of your lives. College helps you become who you are. Make the most of the oppertunities that are available to you. Do not be too shy to make new friends and do not always stay within your comfort zone. As for parents, I would ask them to support their childrens decisions. College will help mold your child so be there for them and let them know that you are there.

My advice to parents is let your student be what they want to be. Do not decide what you think your son/daughter should be. Let them decide. It is their life. If you, as a parent, find a college that you like a lot and your son or daughter does not seem to like it as much as you do, do not pressure him or her to attend just because you like it. Make sure your son or daughter is going to a certain college because he or she wants to, not because you want him or her to. My advice to students is go to the college that felt like home when you were touring it.

I would tell students to go with their gut instinct. You should base your decision first on if they have the program you are thinking about, but the atmosphere and look of the college are also extremely important. You need to feel comfortable and at home at college, as you will be living there for the next 4 to 5 years. Talk to students who go there and find out their opinion, because they will tell you the ins and outs of the school, which is a lot more than the guidance department will. If you can picture yourself going there and thriving, then you know that you have found the right college for you.

When looking into colleges make sure you not only look at the acidemics, but also the environment and number of students. I wish I would have looked at more schools than the few i did. I would have much rather went to a larger school that had a larger variety of things to do on the weekends. Grand Valley lacks in weekend activities for students to participate in. Sorority and Fraturnity life at GVSU also lacks in spirit that i see in other schools. I would stress college visits to high school seniors. College visits may seem hardly nessary, but in order to get the full college experience and acidemic excellence you are striving toward you need to see more than just a few schools.

Finacial aid is the best. Find which school is most afordable to you.

Visiting the college you are thinking of attending can be a very important part of the process. You need to find a school that has the right class sizes and where you won't get lost in the shuffle. Look into potential programs and majors that you might have an interest in and make sure you pick a school with a reputible program. Take a look at the dorms and meet people. It is most important for the student to feel comfortable with the people and the atmosphere, and the more supportive the parents are the easier the transition becomes for the student.

College is a big deal. We don't fully appreciate how much it can change our life until it is underway, and once it is, there is no going back. So what should kids think about when chosing a school? I think it comes down to one question... where is your heart at? Grand Valley is so right for me because I am a simple kind of guy that enjoys doing nothing but being with a few friends on Friday nights. I like being able to talk to my professors once class is over, whether it's about the material or something personal. I love the fact that I can go to Lake Michigan in the warmer months and have a day at the beach. It's as if I thought up a school and it was created. Grand Valley is where my heart is; a simple place, an easy-going place where everyone can feel at home. So when you go to visit a school ask yourself if this could be home to you because having that comfort will help you to focus, make friends for life and start the rest of your adulthood off on the right foot.

visit the campus first

Think about how much money you want to spend. Money is very important when it comes to college. If you want to spend less, think about community college first, then maybe a college near you or near a relative. Another thing to remember is really think about what you want to do and make a decision. Pick colleges with similar characteristics as yourself, such as if you are really outgoing and love people, maybe select a bigger college.

A good college is necessary for a good education. A good college will have resources you need, for example, opportunities for academic and extracurricular activities, helpful faculty, and tools necessary for your classes. Finding the right college depends on your goals and interests. I started at a two year comunity college because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I graduated as a member of an honor society and recieved a scholarship to a four year institution that was affordable and close to home. Finding the right college is only half of the big picture, the other half is your actions. Being self-modivated, putting your school work first, and making relationships with your professors is essential. You make your college and college experience what it is. Take advatage of your resources, no one can do that for you. For parents, encouragement is most important. Students need to feel good about the sacrifice they are making. Finding the right college isn't anything until you make something of it.

The aspect of the college search which most influenced me in my final decision was the tour. I toured MSU and U of M and Grand Valley, along with smaller schools in the area. The tour positively blew me away. I loved Grand Valley. After touring I looked into the school more heavily and met with counselors. The school was definitely a match for me. My advice would be to utilize the resources the Universities you are interested in have available, like counselors, advisors, tours, info. seminars, etc. Once enrolled in a school, get involved, and LIVE ON CAMPUS. Living in the dorms was the most amazing experience. I met so many friends and wouldn't trade that year for anything. Getting involved is easy. My school has a "Campus Life Night" where all of the 270+ organizations give information to encourage new members. College is definitely one of those things where you get what you put into it. Study hard, get involved, have fun, and you will be rewarded! Finally, choose the school you want and not the school your friends want. Its not a bad thing to meet new people and put yourself out there.

Choosing the right school is a personal experience. It should not be based on where your friends or even boyfriend will be attending. It is about knowing what you want to learn, what your interests are and what options each school can provide you for your needs. I would recommend looking into as many options as possible because the most popular school is not always the best.

Students trying to find the right college should look for a school that offers as much that they are interested in as possible, because when you are 17, you don't have it all figured out, and you should find a school that offers you the most options if your interests change, or if you want to change your major. Getting the most out of the college experience involves a lot of things, but one of them is living in the dorms. You get involved in more in a dorm than in other places, and you learn more about what else is out there. Seeing an academic advisor early and often is also a good move. Parents should remember that their children are going to be at this school for the next 4+ years, not them, and should try and let their son or daughter make their own choices. Parents should also be willing to visit and school and not exhibit biases based on "when I was back in college", because times have changed and so have most colleges and universities.