Hampton University Top Questions

Find a school that caters to what you want to do, and what you need to do it well. Find a college with engaging faculty and staff, and a strong emphasis on student development. Visit your school repeatedly and talk to people. When you actually get to college, try to approach everything with an open mind, and try a little bit of everything to see what it is like before you pass judgement. Be involved in your school's campus life, and meet as many new people as you can.

I would say to visit all of the schools that you are interested in this allows you to see the actual environment of the school and to see it on a regular day. A lot of schools have special days like High School Day when the school is really pumped up for visitors when in reality it may not be that fun!

Do you want to study near home? Do you have any financial aid offers? What themes would your ideal school emphasize: networking, scholarship, research? It is important to consider such questions as you weigh your college options. Nevertheless, if Erik Erikson?s ideas about psychosocial development were correct, then the average student who embarks on her studies in the late teens will change her mind about a number of these topics during her college journey. Thus, it must be rather difficult for a person in this stage to make decisions about her career path and life goals. Since the challenges that students encounter during this stage in development cannot be avoided, the only other option is to confront and master these challenges. An ideal institution will educate you, while facilitating your self-discovery. Your task is to ensure that you fully comprehend the strengths, weaknesses, and ideals of your college choices. Identify schools that offer programs in your prospective fields, provide academic advising, respect your ideologies and individuality, and that will complement you as you develop. Finally, don?t select your school just to follow friends, as relationships will change during the course of college as much as you will.

You can't know where you're going if you don't know where you came from. You should look to find a school that will help to develop you in all aspects of life. Find a school that has a balance of strong academic programs, professional development resources, as well as whatever level of social activity you feel is necessary for your success throughout your four years. No matter how many resources a school may have, they can't be of any benefit to students if they don't take advantage of them. Students should be sure to get involved on campus and participate in events that will allow them to meet other students with similar interests. Also take advantage of initiatives started by your school and any other on campus organizations that are meant to assist with real life skills such as resume writing, interviewing skills, and etiquette dinners. All in all, your college experience is exactly what you make it; instead of sitting around complaining about things, find ways to make a difference and shape your college experience into what you want it to be. You're only in college once so make the best of it!

My advice to anyone who is trying to find the right college would be first of all look at the top ten colleges in your major. Take a look at cost which is extremely important as well as financial assistance. Inquire the length of time ( how many years) to acquire your degree. Look at the class sizes as well as the availablity of services in the neighborhood. Look at the crime rate and safety of the campus. Inquire the availabilty of assistance needed and from professors, tutors and office staff. College should be a great experience for everyone attending. The key is to prioritize ( balance) work and fun. School work must always come first and know that fun will always be around. Know that semsters come as fast as blinking your eye. There are quite a few breaks to realx and have fun such as Thanksgiving, Christmas , Spring and Summer.

find a school that best reflects your spirit and academic views. in addition make sure there lines of communications are open with their students.

Choosing a college is parallel to choosing a life path. The choice that is made can be the difference between having a fulfilling career or a waste of four years. Starting as early as sophomore year of high school, look for schools that fit you as a person. Your needs and goals should be well established as you should do your best in a short amount of time. I feel it is imperative to do extensive research; make sure it is affordable, visit the school, set up appointments with staff and talk with students. Ask as many questions as necessary to feel that you are making a secure decision. Making the most out of college depends on what you want to get out of it. Balancing time and fun can create an atmosphere of growth and maturity. I recommend focusing on your goals, trying new things culturally, taking part in activities that will link you with friends as well as networking opportunities, and using every opportunity to grow academically, emotionally, and personally. Make strong connections with professors as well as friends. College is about development and it takes committment and drive to meet your goals.

Sometimes you may want to go against the grain of where everyone else wants to go. Take your own path and you will learn and develop your own persona.

I think the most important things for parents and students to think about when choosing a college is the environment, the emphasis on education and most importantly what the student wants. The environment is important because you want the student to feel safe, ready to learn and socially accepted. College is where most people make their lifelong friends. The emphasis on education is important because you want to go to an institution that will encourage learning and achieving, not a school where the students just lecture and give tests. The student should feel like their education is just as important to the teacher as it is to them. Lastly it is important that the parent doesnt push their opinion on the student or try to force them to attend a specific school. What was good for them may not neccesarily suit their child. All of these factors together shoult make the choosing process run smoother for the student and the outcome should be one both parent and child agree on.

When you are at the right school, you'll know it. Research as much as you can before attending, and make sure you visit. Try to talk to more than one person in the program you are about to enter. While in school, work hard, but enjoy every minute of it. Stay open-minded. Help others along the way. You have earned the right to be there, so BE there. Enjoy the luxuries and facilities of your campus. When times get hard, keep your eye on the prize...there will always be good and bad days in life. Make sure you use the time in school to figure out who you are and who you want to be. Do not be afraid of questions or trying new things. Keep reminding yourself that you will never be there the same way again. The transition from freshman to graduate is amazing. Ultimately, if you do it right, you will leave your school a better, wiser person than when you entered. Like one of my Hampton University mentors tells us, "If you come out unchanged, it wasn't ever love."