Linfield College-McMinnville Campus Top Questions

I would advise parents, to allow their children to make the ultimate choice about where their child wants to attend college. Being happy and comfortable at your college is critical to both academic and social success. College really is home away from home, and it brings a whole new level of good and bad experiences that help shape a person's character.

When you choose a school to go to, choose it for yourself, not because you know people there or because it is within your comfort zone. College is you first chance to really branch out and take control of your life, take your life into your own hands! When you get to that school join an organization that you are interested whether is a sorority, a church, or a volunteer group, it really helps to have a support system that you can really depend on when you need it! Also, organizations look great on job applications and offer lots of great opportunities! Above all stay true to yourself and be open to change because you will grow a ton during your freshman your of college.

More than anything, I have found that the best indicator of where you should go to college is the overall vibe you get when visiting the campus. While a lot of information can be gained from going to college fairs and doing research in books, the only way to know for sure is just to go there and experience the college. There is no such thing as the perfect college, even though all of the glossy brochures and pamphlets make it seem like it. In reality you learn to accept the things you don't like about the school. If you spend your time looking for the perfect college experience you will only be disappointed, instead be more pragmatic in making your selection. Think about if you can live with the problems that you might have with the particular school instead of dismissing a school outright. There is also no substitute for talking to students and staying in a residence hall to get the college experience. Although, It seems as though even small colleges are big communities. Even if one group of people doesn't seem like it fits, it doesn't mean they won't be out there somewhere.

The keys to finding the right college and the keys to making the most your college experinece are remarkably similar. You should sample a wider variety of schools and experiences. Variety is not just the spice of life, it's the path to success. To find the right school, you need to be unafraid to try different ones on. I reccomend applying to one or two "safety" schools, three or four "target" schools, and two or three "reach" schools. This will give you the most options when it comes time to select the school you're going to attend. Then when you have your acceptance letters, financial aid offers, the schools' web page, and (hopefully) notes and pictures from your campus visits laid out in front of you, you'll be able to make your decision with all the options and all the facts. Makeing the most of college requires the same thing. Try different things! Just because you didn't do student governemnt in high school doesn't mean you can't start now. Just because you were never an athlete doesn't mean you can't enjoy intermural sports. Variety is truly the key to college success.

Don't be afraid to step outside your 'box' or comfort zone. Be willing to go out and try new things. College is about being able to become who you are, and if you stay with what is comfortable, you may not find that special spice that makes you who you are. Put forth all your effort into making new experiences, having fun, and making the most of your education!

The advice I would give to parents and students about finding the right college is to evaluate your high school experience and take the pro's and con's and see what type of university would fit you, whether it is a small campus or a specialty school. Don't stress if you don't know what you want to major in for your first year or two. It is normal. Also don't go to a school because your two best friends are. Chances are if that is the main reason you go to a college, you won't like it. Everyone is different, even best friends. It is good to get away from all the high school drama and trust me, at a big state school where most of your high school probably goes, the drama is stronger than ever. It is good to branch out and try new things because the relationships and connections you make in college will shape your life as you age. Visit a few different colleges before choosing one. Live it up because it will be the best four years of your life. Try new things and stay on top of your studies.

I would tell them that they should choose a school that when they visit makes them feel at home and not like a high school student. Also for them to look at schools with a small teacher-student ratio because it makes you feel more like a person and less like a number.

Apply to a lot of different kinds of schools in a range of environments and sizes. Get involved in as many activities as possible.

Pray about it. Put it in God's hands. If you submit and surrender to Him, He will guide you to where you need to be. It's that simple. God Bless.

Know yourself and what you value in friends, professors, social life, academic experience etc. Be true to your vision and find a school that fits with your vision. Don't be afraid to be different.

Don't think that attending an out-of-state college isn't an affordable option for you. Many times being from a different part of the country will make you an attractive applicant to colleges and increase your chances of recieving a scholarship. I've had a fantastic time learning how to live on my own, 2000 miles away from my parents. It also challenged me to meet new people and try new things, like join a sorority, because I had to make a whole new set of friends. If I would have gone to the college in my hometown I believe my social circle would still be limited to my high school classmates.

When I was going through the process of deciding where to attend college, I had the hardest time figuring out what size of school would be the best fit for me. I had family members who knew the only way to find an answer to my question was to see as many schools of as many sizes as possible. They took me to areas where i thought I might like to live and I saw so many schools they all started to run together. But in the end, I just knew that Linfield was right for me. I had this pull towards the campus and the people there. It fit like a glove, nice and snug. I truly believe that if the school is right, the student will just know. And as far as making the most of college life. The biggest mistake many friends of mine made was to not get involved in something on campus. Living on campus is the first step. Just being in the dorms makes you an active member of the community, and allows you to meet that many more people. There is a club out there for everyone. Get involved in what you love.

Keep an open mind and allow yourself to grow. Take risks because that's the only way to really learn about yourself. Make sure to seriously consider the size of the university as well as the location. Go with your gut, it will lead you in the right direction. Don't be afraid to make a mistake, just do it and change it later if you don't like it. Don't let yourself have regrets.

I would advise to visit the colleges, and to have your son or daughter stay overnight on the campus with a student, because you get a better sense of campus activity and life that way versus just getting a tour of the campus. Then also go to some of the sporting events, or concerts because then you get a feel of campus spirit and participation.

My number one peice of advice would be visit the school!! A college can look great on paper but there is something to be said about actually steeping foot on campus. By doing so you get the feel of the campus, students, faculity, and how the school is run. Personally I visited Linfield in the summer when there are few students there to talk to; however, the staff there was very helpful, personal, and extreemly personal. I was able to get a great feel for the campus and feel in love with it. After that visit I was sold on the school and could not wait to see it active with students. My second peice of advise and if not of same importance is to find out what you want in a school- The oppertunities it offers, the type of classes offered, the type of activites that take place, and what the scocial life looks like on campus. To do this I would encourage students to look into a varity of schools and soon they will find out what is important to them and what they will require of their future school. For me, Linfield offered all of the above.

If the child wants to be close to home or not, Amount of activities (or pertaining to the students interest) the college has, also if religious nearby chruches

Advice for finding the right college? Well, I would say that many people have that "Omigosh, this is the ONE" moment, but that's not always the way it goes, and don't be freaked out if that's not the case for you. Make a Pro and Con list to decide. Financial aid, community, social atmosphere, etc. and then cross- check it with your own values. I chose mine because they gave me the most money, flat out. But it was the best choice I've ever made, because that was the one thing that I was really concerned with. Do your values match those of the college? To make the most out of your college experience, try everything twice! If, the first day of classes, you are completely freaked out, give it another try. College is not worth quitting, so don't. My mantra for Freshman year was: just keep going, because there's no way you are backing out now. Stick with it, even if you don't like it and the good times will come! Go to clubs, football games, parties, whatever. Just get out there!

Start looking for colleges your sophmore and Junior year, that way your senior year you only have to worry about applying, not finding which schools to apply too.

Find a college that best suites you now. Look for small if you know that you grew up in a smaller town of school. Drinking is a big part of any college, so keep this in mind when you try to find your independence and your own feet in a new college.