Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

When looking for the perfect college to benefit your style, make sure you ask yourself 3 things. Can you really see yourself going to school there? How far away is it from home? -will you be able to go home on weekends if that's your thing or do you want to get as far away as possible? And lastly, What are you looking to get out of your college experience? -does what you want pertain to the particular university? Always make sure you have your best interest and not someone else's. College is for the person attending, not the peers that pressure you or that parents who want you to go to that school. And most importantly, enjoy the next few years! It may be a bumpy ride, but college will be the best years of your life so don't fret over the small stuff and remember to have fun!

For students, I would tell them to take a good look at themselves to see what kind of environment they would like to be in. In my opinion, the school setting is what makes a student happy or unhappy at their campus. Also, they should visit the colleges they believe they would like to attend to get a feel for the school and the environment. The most important thing is to know whether or not you want to go to school because there are many people that I see come and then they feel so unhappy because school just is not for them. I think that students should really sit down and think about what they feel as though they can achieve in life and not let anyone or anything make them think otherwise. Life is a battle and we must always fight for what we want. It does not matter how long it takes us to get there, we must make sure we try to hardest to get where we want to be. Never back down and stay strong!

My advice to parents and students would be to look into everything. Make sure the campus offers activities that you are interested in and could join so you aren't just sitting around all of the time, plus it's a great resume builder! Also make sure they offer the services you need. Make sure they offer different services such as tutoring or health and wellness services. These are things that may often be overlooked when visiting the schools but are important. Also what are the dorms or apartments like? Having a bad roommate or roommates could ruin your semester. If you don't know anyone that you could be roommates before hand then don't be afraid to make friends at orientation, everyone is in the same shoes you are, so don't be shy! Overall, make friends and study a lot!

The best advice I could give to anyone searching for the right college is to find the school that really makes you feel like you are at home. Do not just consider the price or size of a school. Tour the campuses two or three times and make sure that you are comfortable and feel safe. This is where you will spend the next four years of your life, so make sure that it is a place that speaks to you, and does not make you feel like just another number. Talk to your prospective professors. Ask them why they chose that school to share their knowledge and passion. Find a place where you can make some of the most cherished memories of your life and meet the people that will share those moments with you.

I would suggest that all prospective students and respective guardians should not only visit the school as part of a campus tour, but that they should also check out the twon/area when school is in normal session by just observing the campus and recreational activites of the students. If parents are worried about partying and such they should consider talking to students personally about campus life and social activities, and observe these days/times for themselves to get a full look at their child's potential university. I would also say look at the courses required for your students major and decide if you feel the program is very academic and worth the money, or if it busy work or a step up from high school and therefore useless. Check class sizes and the amount of students in your child's major to ensure they can graduate on time by getting all the courses they need. Basically, keep your eyes open and don't fall for the sugar coated artinerary that the school feeds you...they want your money and if your child gets an education thats ok too.

Pick a school that best matches your financial situation and where your child feels most comfortable.

When you visit a college you are considering attending, attend some of the classes in your program, eat lunch in the dining hall, and stay on campus for as long as you can. This will give you a more appropriate feel of what the college is actually like. The tours can be great, but you are only seeing the campus from one student's perspective. When you finally choose a college and begin attending, get involved right away. Go to sporting events, plays, and other events. A mistake I made was not taking full advantage of all of the academic advancement programs available like the writing center or the tutoring services. These services made me feel more confident in my work and took a great deal of stress away which really helped me enjoy college for all it has to offer.

I would say to go to the college that you like a lot before you make your decision. I came to Kutztown University 5 seperate times to see if I really liked the faculty, campus, and students. Try to sit in on classes that are in the major you are thinking of. When looking at a school look at ones that you might not like and go see them anyway. Kutztown was not my first choice before I came to see it. I hated my first choice when I went to visit it, but as soon as I walked onto the Kutztown campus I knew this was were I wanted to come. For parents, trust your son or daughters desicion. If the school is a big drinking school but you know your that your child will not drink, don't freak out. They will still listen to your teachings and not drink, and if they do it is very very minimal. For students, you will make tons of friends, some may leave some may stay and both are ok!!

Make sure that your child wants to go to college. Don't force them to go and not focus and waste your money.

The key to finding the right college is not as important as making the most of the college experience. No matter where you attend, there will be pressure on you to succeed, so quite possibly it is better to go to a school that some might consider below your standards. At that institution you could thrive and achieve great success, the name is not everything. For instance I attended a normal state school, with a tier 4 ranking, which is basically the worst you can get, and I will be attending the Duquesne University of Law School next fall. It did no matter where I went for my undergrad, it only mattered how much work and time I put into it. Once you have chosen a school, stay on track. It will be tempting to literally do nothing in your first year, however a bad GPA in the first year can take the other 3 years to erase. I have lived this reality myself, but many do not make it through a roguh first year. In all I would suggest choosing the best college for the price, and then working as hard as possible once you are attending that institution.