Macalester College Top Questions

Don't settle for a place that you don't feel completely comfortable with.

Don't hold yourself back, look outside of your comfort zone, outside of the area that you live in. At the same time, know your limitations; don't reach too far, then find yourself somewhere that you hate, away from everyone and everything that you love.

Visit the campus and make sure it seems right in person

Don't pay attention to all the college rankings. They can give you a ballpark idea about schools, but aren't that useful for differentiating. Focus on finding a school that fits your personality and what you want to get out of your education. There's a huge difference, both academically and otherwise, between large public schools and small private schools, and everything in between. Read the information that a school presents itself to get a feel for what kind of image the school wants to project, this genuinely is important. But also talk to current students at a school to find out what it's actually like. The best way to get a feel for a school is to visit it. When I visited the school I'm at now, it just instantly felt right and I haven't regretted the decision since. Unfortunately, there's no simple way to figure that out, but to boil it down: trust your instincts.

It's OK if you don't know what you want to do with your future. The point of college is to help you figure out what that is. When you look at a school you should feel like that places is going to open up windows of opprotunities that you haven't even dreamed of. Ever school has it's own character, spend time finding out what that character is and whether it's a character that you like. It's like finding a friend. Only, this friend really will change your life forever. Also, keep in mind that your ideals will mostly like change while you are at school. So, take a plunge. I'm sure you've already made a list of schools based on the most important criteria, so don't hesitate to take a chance with one of those schools on your list. Life is full of wonderful surprises, and most of them are found during your college years. Keep an open mind, take that class you never thought you'd take, and live every day to the fullest.

Relax. I can't stress that enough. =]

To choose the college that is best for you your personal views, ideas and morals need to be taken into consideration. Spending a weekend at the school to visit classes and get a feel of the environmaent is best. Take into consideration finacnial aid. Whether or not the college has need blind admissions, the cost of tuition and your personal financial situation. You need to figure out if you can see yourself hanging out with the people on campus otherwise it will be a very lonely 4 years. Also cultural and ethnical diversity. College should be a completely new experience. Exposing yourself to different people things and ideas, not an extension of high school. Going to college with the same type of people that your used to or the same environment can hinder the true effects of college.

Two current foreign students at Macalester talk about their experience

Go on college visits and ask everyone about their experience some people will try to get you to come and lie about their school and say it is better make sure you know what you are getting into before you go to a certain school. Four years go fast make the most of them

Research, research, research! Study the manuals and brochures, memorize the major list, visit the college, talk to professors and students, tour the campus, peer into the dorms. Do everything! College is an expensive but worthwhile decision, and skimping on the research part will hurt you in more ways than you'll know until it's too late. I also suggest that you look at schools outside of your home state. You can still be close to your family if you're across the country, but staying home just so your parents won't cry isn't a good enough reason to choose a school. Do what's best for you to grow and learn, but you can't grow if you're constantly running home at every chance. A little distance will do everyone some good - that way, you learn how it feels to miss and to be missed sincerely.