Grand Valley State University Top Questions

I would have to say that you should look for a school that is know for what you are going to school for. Also to look for what kind of internships they have in your field. Also look for the the employment after one year rate. Think about going to a community collage for your first two year to save yourself some money.

I think students and parents should take the time to visit the universities the future student will potentially attend. I visited every school that I applied to and was able to realize that the smaller campus and its beautiful scenery of GVSU were what I wanted. Initially, I had planned on attending a larger univeristy but this quickley changed once I visited the different campuses. I would also recommend the student making the choice for his or herself. My parents supported me no matter which school I chose and this made me feel comfortable in making a choice based soley on what I wanted for my future. Picking a school because close friends are choosing to attend there isn't something I would recommend either. I picked GVSU without one friend of mine going there as well. This forced me to come out of my shell and make all new friends. This was an important step in my adult life. I successfully made a great group of friends at GVSU as well as keeping close ties with my friends at home.

Don't go where your friends all go unless it's really where you want to go

Consider what majors you are interested, and locations of the schools, as well as what they offer for financial aid. You shouldn't be worried about finding the most popular or expensive school. Think about what is important to you, to finish school in the timeframe you want. If you find two schools that equally meet your requirements, location will be very important. You do not want to realize 3 months into college that you get very homesick, or cannot stand snow at all. And if both offer you the same kind of scholarship, say 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, but once costs 3 times as much as the other, you need to think about that, too. Consider all your options carefully and do what feels right to you.

Make sure you look into each school's educational philosophy as well as rules regarding social lives. If you know how the school reacts to certain events then you shouldnt be surprised when one of those events occurs.

Don't be pressured into things you truly don't want to do but at the same time try new things and keep an open mind. Give everyone and everything a chance and you will end up learning more than you thought you would. You will end up learning as much or more outside the classroom than inside the classroom. Take advantage of the events, resources and deals that are presented to you during college, those will quickly vanish once you graduate. Activly participate in at least one group or club during your time at college, it is a great way to get involved on campus, meet new people and continue to do the things you enjoy doing.

When making the big decision of what college to attend many factors come in to play. For me, a big determinant was financial aid, for my family and I would not be able to afford my college education if I did not have any. Still, it is not always about the finances for this does not determine the environment or the experiences you will encounter when in college. In order to find the "right" college, one must know who they are. They must know what they can and can not handle, what they like and dislike, and especially, whether they are disciplined enough to even attend college. So to find the right college, take all of these things into mind so that you set yourself up for success and not failure. Remember what you are going there for, an education, not socialization, though it is important. In order to make the most of college, you must utilize the resources given to you. Campuses are filled with people of various backgrounds and each person has a purpose. Learn not only from your books but the people you encounter every day.

Take your time. Make sure you visit various colleges to really get a feel of various campuses to ensure that you get the one that's right for you. Start early. Make sure you get your applications done as soon as possible so your focus is put on what school you're going to attend.

meet new people! Forget about high school!

College is a time to study and get ready for your future career; however, it is also a time to truly find yourself. Finding yourself comes through healthy experimentation in the different areas of life: friends, personal views, activities, and work habits. After you have narrowed your choices of schools to those that share your academic and career plans, as this is most important, you must then take a look at the campus and its surroundings. As you are doing so, ask yourself, ?Is this the right college for me?? Look past the overwhelming buildings, classrooms, and landscapes and focus on the things the tour guide won?t tell you about: the people and the surrounding area. Are the students in groups or alone walking to class? Are they talking amongst themselves or just keeping quiet? What are they doing? Are they laughing and having a good time? Then think about what type of setting you would enjoy. Would that be a large city with lots of accommodations or a rural area with beautiful scenery and warm homes? Only after you have examined these peripheral aspects of the school will you be able to make a competent decision.