Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

Select a small school where you can learn and thrive in class discussions. Don't settle due to financial issues--you can always find more aid, and when you look back on this you'll always be glad that you chose education over money. Go out for as many activities and clubs as possible, even if you're shy--this will help you open up, reach out, and learn what kind of person you really are and what you are really into. Always be willing to make friends and network, and get to know your professors. Find a school with professors who are innovative and respected, so you will always be learning as much as you can in the classroom. Try several different courses your freshman year; you might be surprised at what you decide to major in. Keep in close contact with your advisor so that you're always on track to graduate--it's easier than you think to fall off the map and discover you're bbehind on credits. Be tolerant of your roommate(s), open-minded, eager to try new things...and use a planner for your homework! It will save you a million times over.

Students - Look at the general population of the campus, look for people who you could see yourself being friends with or dating. Look at the things they offer students, and make sure to consider whether they are things that you can actually see your self using. Look for hang out spots or things for students like pool tables, ping pong tables, basketball courts ect. Look at the size of the school. Look at the proximity of things. It's like trying on clothes find something that fits you,,don't sell yourself short. Look at as many colleges as possible. Parents- support your kids decision because they have to live with it. As for making the most out of your college experience. Go to lectures, your professors are professionals who know what they are talking about. Don't get too caught up in the reading, there is always more to do. Remember college is a major change and everyone struggles with adjusting. Remember that other Freshman don't know anyone at the school either. Use the oppurtunities that are available to you. Major in whatever you like, because you are going to spend a lot of time with your major.

One of the best ways to know if a college is right for you is to see it and experience it. Visiting the college is one of the best ways to get the feel of a college. Going during a specific "prospective student" orientation is okay, but you will get a more authentic and genuine experience by visiting during a normal week and weekend. Walk around campus, sit in on a class in a major that interests you, dine in the dining hall, sleep in the dorms, go to a sporting event, check out the library, go talk to a professor, go to a college party, see what clubs and extra-curricular activities are offered, talk to random students as you walk around, check out the town the college is in. This is exactly what real students do and there is no better way to get the real "feel" of a college. If nothing else, go to the dorms, knock on a random door, and talk to whoever answers it. It may be intimidating, but at least you'll be talking to a real student, not a school designated tour guide or admissions counslor. Good luck in your college search!

Make sure you visit before any comittments are made, though I didn't, I was just really lucky.

Make sure your second choice for a major is at your first choice school. I've seen too many people transfer away from Lewis and Clark because they realized what they really wanted to do wasn't here. Also, have the right balance between studying and playing.

Keep in mind that college is supposed to be fun. If you love football, don't go to a school without a team, if you love literature, don't choose a career focused college. That also means that you have to love the place you live. So much of selecting the right school is about following your instincts. When a school just feels right to you, that's where you belong. Don't let the details or the reputation of a school weigh too much on your decision. Sometimes the best school may not be the best school for you. Keep your mind and heart open to new people, places, and experiances, and the rest will fall into place.

Trust your intuition. I was lucky enough to have a very strong gut-feeling that my school was right for me, and I ended up being completely happy with my experience. Yes, it's important to take statistics and numbers into consideration, but what really matters is whether or not you can truly see yourself on that campus, in those classes, with those people, being happy.

Spend a night at the school to see what the school is really about.

Small liberal arts colleges have a lot to offer, but consider other alternatives too; they are often not what they claim to be. For instance, I have been severely disappointed by Lewis & Clark in almost every regard, especially academic rigor, extracurricular availability, quality and diversity of the student body, and disregard for student well-being and for employees, staff and even professors. Ask students how happy they are with their institution; that may be the most important measure of the quality of a school. Be sure your school is sufficiently academically rigorous; many students and colleges simply want to go through the motions. Look for colleges that specialize in your strengths, but leave room for flexibility too. It's OK to enter college without a focus, but if you suspect you have a talent or passion for something, just go for it and see what happens. Also, never base a decision fully on financial aid; remember that aid can be pulled and reduced at any time, seemingly without reason.

My advice would be look for a college where you can receive a good education and at the same time be happy. Now happy is a very broad term, but no one wants to go to a school that will cause them to become depressed and force them to leave. Pick a school that provides an education for the career that you would enjoy but also think of some back-up enjoyable jobs. This school should have the proper education for those jobs also. In this day and age thanks to no child left behind, it is hard for high school students to get ahead, and college is an entirely different world both socially and acedemically. So even though you may love a subject in high school you could realize that it is not the thing you want to do in your life within your first semester in college. Make sure you visit any college that you wish to attend to make sure that you will be able to surround yourself with people that you can get along with and see yourself building strong relationships with, because those friendships can save your life in college.