Lehigh University Top Questions

There?s a lot of advice I could give prospective freshman and their parents. The most important would have to be, RELAX. The choice of college is not one that is binding nor is it this stressful process we feel we must make it out to be. Colleges are businesses; they want bright students to bring them wealth and fame. It is what they hold inside that matters. The truth is that wherever you go, you will be fine if you take good care of yourself and work to your potential. That said, you should aspire to find a community that could push you past your potential. It is where you go that will determine how you discover yourself; the kind of person you are or the kind of person you would like to be. College is a journey of self-enlightenment influenced by your peers, the faculty, the surrounding community, and the experiences you create together. There is no right college, it is what you make out of the resources you are provided with. Granted, you should make sure the resources you require for your intended goal are offered, but other than that, the rest is up to you.

You have to pick a college that fits you. Don't pick a school based on where your best friend is going or what your parents want. You need to find a place where you feel comfortable, where you can see yourself living and learning for four years. Go on tours, talk to current students, get in touch with the faculty and staff there...they'll help you make the right decision. Once you've picked a school, my best advice for you is to just put yourself out there. Try something new that you've never done before. Join a club that they didn't have at your high school. Play a club sport. Talk to people. It's important to move outside of your comfort zone. If you do that, you're more likely to meet a diverse range of people. And don't forget that, while your primary reason for attending school is to learn and get a degree, it's also okay to have fun! Find a balance between your academics and your social life and you're going to have a wonderful time.

Comfort. That is the key when choosing a college. It is all about the feeling. I walked onto Lehigh University's campus, and after fifteen minutes, I said to my parents, "I could do this everyday for four years." I looked at 30 schools, and the one I chose, I ended up not even taking a scheduled tour on the campus. My family and I did a self-guided tour. I found myself walking ahead of my parents, and wanting to know what was around each corner. If you can picture yourself walking to class on the main walkway, and doing things WITHOUT your parents than that is the college for you. College is about independence, and growing up. Look at too many colleges. I have seen too many people just settle on a college. DON'T SETTLE. "Okay," is not an adjective that you want to describe your future college. Find a college where you smile when you tell people about it. Try to many things, and meet too many people. College is not just about an education. Find a place where you can expand as a whole person.

Go to a school where you think you will learn a lot, get a good job after graduating, and fit in socially

My advice to parents and students regarding their college search would be to take your time and focus on all aspects of a school. Don't get hung up on one detail. I was determined to go to a school in a big city, so I applied to several without taking the time to really learn as much as I could about each. During your search, take into consideration class sizes, availability of professors and advisors, and whether problems will be resolved quickly, in addition to on-campus organizations and residential life. Find out whether studies are flexible, so that if you want to change your major, it would be easy to do so. Lastly, realize that even if you don't end up at your first choice, you can always turn your college experience into something positive. I didn't love my college choice at first, but I found friends with similar interests, and discovered my passion in life along the way. College is what you make it, so find one that will challenge and excite you.

It is important to select a college that will cater to your needs in terms of your major and learning abilities, but attending college is not only about getting a degree. Parents and students should consider the programs availble and organizations and teams to join. However, the most influential factor should be how the student interacts with the student body. Living away from home and leaving high school friends is challenging, but can be extremely rewarding if the student thrives at his/her new school and makes new friends. If the student is uncomfortable in his /her new environment, the next four or more years of their life could be the most miserable instead of the most memorable.

Keep an open mind as to where you or your child want to go. Make sure you have visited the campus of each college where you are applying. I had my heart set on a completely different college because it was close to my friends from home, but then I visited Lehigh last and found that the laboratories and quality of the campus were so much better than the other colleges I had looked at. It took a long time to figure out where I finally wanted to go. This is a decision that you will have to live with for the rest of your life and career. Look at the alumni network, campus grounds, buildings, and classrooms. Ask a current student what it is like to go to the school or, even better, spend a weekend on campus going to a few classes and then explore the social life. It is alright to say no to a school that you had anticipated to be where you wanted to go and that had already accepted you. If they are really that good, they will just want you to be happy...and maybe even offer you a sweeter finacial aid package!

The question that should always be in the back of your mind when choosing a school is ?How realistic of a match is this for me?? Everyone wants to attend the schools with the best names; however, these schools are not for every student. Take your time and take into consideration every aspect of the school, including social life. Many people excuse the social climate when making final decisions on a school not realizing that social life plays a major part in student emotional health and the overall college experience.

Go into this process with an open mind. The best way to decide on a school is to go on a campus tour, sit in a class, eat in the dining hall, experience the average day of a student at that school and see if it fits for you. Look at the all of the academic and extra curricular programs the school has to offer. Once attending school, be adventerous to trying something new. You have a clean slate and only four short years that just fly by. Make the most out of it.

College is not just about education but about the experience as well. For the parents, make sure that your child is not only getting the best education that they can, but also make sure they are getting a great experience out of it as well. People used to tell me that college will be the best four years of your life, and I did not really believe it, until now when I am in my senior year and thinking about actually missing classes and the lifelong friends that I have made. For the students, the same advice applies. College is not all about studying and taking tests, make sure to have fun and let loose every now and then, because the four years will fly by very quickly and you will find yourself wishing you had gone out more with your friends or gotten more involved with activities on campus. My point is make sure to go to class and have some fun too!