Miami University-Oxford Top Questions

Visit colleges, walk around not only the campus but the town around it. Find a place where you truely feel like you fit in and feel a connection with the people. If this school has the programs you are looking for then you have found the place for you.

My adivice would be to strongly consider what kind of student, academically and socially, one is before choosing the college. A school's reputation should also be factored into the decision process. Academics and a beautiful campus can be important but if you don't want to go to a party school, don't attend one with that reputation. Do some serious digging on the school. Find good reviews but also bad ones too. Every school has positive aspects and students who love it. But you also need to find out the bad traits and hear from the students who transferred or who didn't like their college experience. The last piece of advice I would suggest is that once you choose a college and later discover its not what you thought it would be, don't be afriad to transfer out. For sometimes the university does grow on you over time but sometimes you find yourself wanting to transfer out your junior or senior year when it might be even harder. Choose the university that makes you happy, not anyone else.

Explore many different options.

1. Choosing the best fit is by far the most important thing. A university will be your home for 4 years and you want to be comfortable. If a highly ranked academic institution is a place you will be miserable - Don't Go! 2. Know what works best for you. If you work better with personal attention from professors, avoid schools with large classes. If you want to do research, look for programs that encourage undergraduates to conduct their own studies. 3. Look at where the most recent graduates are going to work or school. What companies are they working for? Is there a high placement rate into graduate school? Medical school? Law school? 4. Try something new. You won't have time to do every out-of-class activity, but get involved in something you didn't do in high school - maybe broomball, volunteering, or studying abroad. You won't have nearly as many opportunities immediately available to you after graduation. 5. Learn to balance everything. Work, but not too much. Play, but not too hard. No matter what have a great time and take lots of pictures!!

spend a few days there, go to a few classes, and be there on a weekend.

When picking a college go with your gut. Take advantage of the great extracurricular activities your college has to offer- there really is something for everyone!

simply, have an open mind.

I would say that simply visiting the university does not give the applicant a great idea of what your going to get at the university. In some cases I learned the most by doing an overnight with a student and sometimes the administration helps facilitate this process. In other cases I tried to find anyone that I knew at the respective school I was visiting and contact them. As for making the most of the college experience, I would say do anything to get involved. Greek life, college sports, volunteer clubs, intramurals, there are countless things to do on campus and if you get involved you will structure your life and meet many different people. Study abroad is another thing that will enhance your college experience .

Get involved, find out what you believe, and stick to it. Stay true to yourself.

You'll know when you visit the college that is the one for you. It's where you feel the most comfortable and it'll feel like finding your glass slipper once you find your college. Study hard, but have fun too! it's your first time living on your own away from home (usually) and it really is a maturing experience.