Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Top Questions

There are a lot of advantages to a small school. I've attended two. However, if given the choice I wish I had gone to a large state school. I would not have had to transfer when I decided to switch majors and I'm now in a lot of debt that I would have been able to avoid if I had gone to a state school. I also would have gotten to experience a lot more social networking and things as simpe as sporting events.

Safety on and off-campus, extracurricular activities such as sports, big or small school, professors - do they have a good quality teaching skills?

My advice is to definitely visit the college campus before making your decision. Also make sure that there's no dificulty communicating with the administrators. I believe that diversity is very important because it will enhance the student's experience, academically and socially. Choose a college that suits your character and your needs, that will make you comfortable and can provide you with the most optimal help and care.

Parents, don't push students into a school that they do NOT want to go to. And students, don't listen to your parents, they are YOUr college loans so it should be YOUR decision. Do what feels right for you!

Definately go on college visits!!! i didn't do this at all and is why i am going to transfer out. and while you're visiting the school, ask lots of questions about it that would help you decide whether you like it or not, e.g. social life on campus, dorm situation, what dining hall food is like, what kids do on the weekends, etc. things that help you get a feel for the school. also, if there is an overnight option where you can sleep in the dorms, go for it! make a list of qualities you want in a school and choose schools that have what you want. when you get to college, try to be involved because that'a a good way to get to know people. it will be hard to adjust at first, but try to be involved in your school and your new life so you have a better time adjusting. also, take full of advantage of all the resources you have on your campus. importantly, balance your social and study life! if worse comes to worse and there's nothing you can do to like your school, there's always transferring.

I would encourage all students to look into, at the very least, four colleges that have the program they are interested in. Every college is different, and what might be a good college for one student may not be the best choice for another student. But if students take the time to visit and contact schools before choosing one, they may end up prefering a college that was not originally their top choice. I would also advise students to become very active in their course-work and community right away; this will help an individual develop a good sense of their environment as well as good study habits earlier on. A great way to meet new people is to join extra-curricular activities and break out of your "shell". However, students should also be able to put aside enough time to succeed in their studies, especially if they have to maintain a certain GPA or are in a difficult program. Study techniques that were used in high school may not work in college, so it's always best to try different strategies until you find one that is comfortable and works for you.

Students definitley need to research the school, the setting, and the focus. Once there they need to give it a fair chance and stick it out. It's normal to feel out of place for a while. Parents need to consider costs, it definitley makes a difference. Another aspect to consider is distance from home, are you close enough that you can get picked up every weekend if needed, or are you okay with being a plane ride away? Students need to consider which school is best focused on what they want for their future. Remember, it's not all about partying. There will be parties at every school but they get old and there are much more important things. Never choose a school solely for that purpose.

Visit the schools more than once and really pay attention to what life will be like outside of classes because that is where most of your time is spent. look into the location as well because where you are plays a big role in your happiness, social life, job and travel.

In order to find the right college for you, I believe it is important to understand what kind of community the school is in and around the school. Every student feels comfortable in a different environment and luckily, every campus is different as well. It is a good idea to know the size of community and what kinds of activities are done in the area. No matter what your academic situation is, your community can directly affect it in both negative and positive ways. In your community there should be attributes which can stimulate learning. While getting to know the community around the college you should consider a good balance of resources which can be used in academic and non-academic activities. While it is important to focus on academics, it is equally important to focus on what you will do when you don't have school work to do, and sometimes, what you will do instead of school work.

Finding the perfect college is nearly impossible, however I truly believe that college is what you make of the experience. Anyone can achieve anything they set their mind to. With an optimistic and motivated attitude, any school can prove to an amazing place where one is able to gain an education of a lifetime. College is one of the best times of one's life because it is full of new experiences and it can undoubtedly be life changing.