Missouri Western State University Top Questions

I think two of the most important things to consider when picking a college is the town that the college is located in and the size of the college. I went to a small school and I wanted go somewhere bigger but I didn't want to feel like a sheep among the flock so I picked a school that was about 5000 students. Location is key, you don't want to be in an area that you are uncomfortable and you don't want to be in a school that has too many or too few student for what the incoming student is looking for. You can get an education anywhere but your surroundings usually determine how well you will do.

Apply to as many colleges as possible. The more options you have the better off you will be. Choose your friends wisely.

Make sure that you both research the cost and the intended major of the student. The bill for college attendance seems to increase each year, so take that into consideration. Also, be sure to consider local community colleges first. You may be able to attend one in your area for cheap, then transfer to a bigger university. If community college isn't for you, look at colleges and universities in your state. You'll save so much money. Plus you'll be close enough to your famliy to where you'll be able to visit on weekends and catch a ride home with someone you know. Get involved in activites too. When you graduate, employers will look at activities you've participated in as a student. Just make sure you enjoy your college years, and don't party too much, or else you WILL find your GPA getting low, and you'll eventually get kicked out of college. Once your GPA gets low, it takes LOTS of hard work to get it back up.

Make sure you visit numerous colleges before you decide where you want to send you child. It is important to get the experience of campus life before you actually start attending school. Make sure to schedule a campus visit and sit-in on a class to see if you think you will like those professors and that school.

FInding the right college have several challenges, the first is does it have the right program to fit your needs, academicaly, socialiy, and personally? The next is the location of the city, is it in the right location, where you can accesss everything you need, and does the campus have everything I need? And does the atmostphere of the campus fit what you would like? After you enter college always have in mind you can help change something or serve in a place where you there are needs to make the campus a better place. College is what you make it, so you can maximize all that it has to offer to make yourself successful.

Make sure you know a lot about the student life. What the campus is like on the weekends - if it's a suitcase college, if there are a lot of extra curricular activities to get involved with, if there is good school spirit, etc. You want to make sure you can ENJOY your time at college.

I would stray away from the state universities and large schools and find one that fits your personality, and a place where your voice can be heard. Many times high school graduates want to go to the largest most fun school, and when they go they usually end up leaving that school after 2 years. Our school is small in comparisson to other universities but we each have a voice here and have a family atmosphere built unlike many large universities. I would also suggest to deffinitly have a plan set in mind. There is nothing worse then paying for un needed classes and many students do that because they are un sure of what they want to do. Talk with counsulors, parents and friends and find out what you really are interested in.

Look at your options and find what fits you best!

The only way to get a true sense of a school is to spend time there, and talk to upperclassmen. Encourage your kids to get involved in extracurriculars. Outside activities with fellow students can form relationships necessary to succeed in school. Talk to the students and see what they think of the school, and the people that attend it. The best opinion will come from the students themselves, and they will be the most honest.

First of all, see if the school has accredidation. This is important because when you graduate, your degree will have some weight or meaning in helping you get a job. Second, look at their requirements. See if you have everything it takes and more to get accepted. Also see what kinds of courses they offer. That lets you know what kind of students they accept. I said that to say that their course outline tells you if they accept underachievers or go-getters. Always take a tour of the school when it is in session to see how you will fit into the campus life there. You don't want to go during a break or in the summer because you won't know if you mend good with the student boody or what kind of atmosphere to expect. The worst thing to do is to start the semester and not be happy. It will mess up your whole semester, it you last a whole semster. Brochures don't tell you the half. Most importantly, consider the price. Students loans and financial aid follow you to the ends of the earth.