Hamline University Top Questions

Have an overnight visit on the weekend.

Check out the academic programs at the University you're looking at. If you're not sure what you want to do, make sure there are a variety of programs available that interest you so you can choose later. Learn about the average SAT/ACT scores of the Universities you're looking at and choose one where your score falls in the top 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} or so. Look at the retention rate of a school. The number of students who return for their sophomore year is a good indicator of how well the school delivers on what it advertises and how well it accomodates new students. Visit the campus. Make sure you could feel at home there without your family. Ask other students if the professors are helpful and if they feel like what they're learning in their classes will help them find a job and be successful.

Each college is different and it is immportant to find a college that your children will be able to relate to.

Have your children go to community college first, it's cheaper.

I would tell you to ask around, how the students feel about their school their likes and dislikes.... Don't just trust your tour guide, they are paid to talk the school up.

Visit some different schools and experience some of the classes if at all possible. I think that it really helps to try to make good friends and relationships, they will be very rewarding for your educational experience.

Advice I would give parents/students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience is to remember that while students go to college for an education, and necessarily take the appropriate classes, more learning will be done outside the classroom than many know. Students need to find a place where they would feel comfortable going out to eat with their classmates, where they feel safe walking across campus, and where they feel they can thrive both academically, socially, and professionally. If someone is the kind of person where they thrive on lots of contact with people, then a bigger college may be appropriate. If someone needs more one-on-one contact with a professor in order to feel comfortable in a class, then a smaller college with smaller class sizes is more appropriate. Also, take into account the campus's location. Someone who hates cities should not go to a campus that is surrounded by sky scrapers, just as someone who hates rural locations should not go somewhere surrounded by forests or corn fields.

Visit as many as possible to find out what you like and dislike about colleges. Do not choose one for dumb reasons, such as a friend/boyfriend ect. When you get to college really get out and try to meet people. Don't go home a lot at the beginning, keep your dorm room open and try as many new things as possible!

Check out www.utead.com - it helps to compare schools. They also have a facebook application called 'college finder'

Find a place that makes you feel comfortable. Forget the prestige of the school or how it will or will not affect your future career prospects. You future depends on no one but yourself and it is best for you to be in an environment that will foster your growth and happiness. Challenge yourself as much as possible, go outside of your comfort zone a bit. Live on campus for atleast one year so you can get the experience of habitating with others...this will also help your social life. Get involved! Join a club, audition for a play, sing in a choir, or play in a band. Volunteer in your community. Go off campus and enjoy your surroundings. Consider Graduate school. Relax, have fun. Don't let these years rush past because you will yearn for them when they're gone.