Nebraska Wesleyan University Top Questions

Go on college visits and you will know where you feel the most comfortable.

College visits do not really do it. Find out personal opinions from people who have attended the college you went to. Look at both positives and negatives.

Don't listen to anyone but yourself. Find what fits you best and what you want to do that will make you happy in life. Also, give your school a chance. Wait at least a year before deciding to transfer; you never know, things may surprise you.

The most important thing to remember when selecting a college is that every college is different, and one that may be great for one person could be a terrible choice for another. Before your visits, take the time to research which colleges are strong in your field of interest. Then, most importantly, take the time to visit at LEAST three colleges. Every college has its own personality, and every student should try to find a school that will compliment their personality. A special piece of advice for incoming students; don't worry about where your high school friends are going. You can still see them over break, and chances are that if you pick the right college, you won't miss them nearly as much as you would imagine. Once you pick a school, come into it with an open mind. You will be challenged from every angle, but resist the temptation to go home every weekend. Be willing to let go of some old ideas, but never forget where you came from. Meet your roommate half-way, even if you don't like them, and always assume your professors want to help, because they usually do.

Go somewhere that you feel comforatble. I felt comfortable the moment I walked onto campus. I loved everything about it: the people, the classes, the buildings. I'm from a small town and it gave me that same kind of feeling. You will just know when on campus. So you really do need to do a campus tour and maybe even sit in on some classes.

Sometimes, your child cannot explain why a school feels right. Other schools may seem to make more sense, but when you go on your campus visit and research the school, you just KNOW if it feels right for you. Follow your instincts!

Visit lots of schools, spend time there. Sometimes local small schools are better than the top expensive ones, depending on the area of study. Study hard, but not too hard. Party hard, but not too hard. Enjoy.

What I believe to be the greatest asset to an education is finding those people that challenge you and provide alternative manners in which to look at the world. In that way I believe that anyone can find a quality education in any institution as long as they do the work to seek those people out. In my experience I have found these people at my institution because of the ability to receive one on one time with professors who truly care about helping students develop their ideas and career. As a result, I really truly feel that if you want a great college experience what you need to do is have ownership of your education and extend your hand out to the community of learners that you are involved in.

Finding the right college is a tough process but you must trust you kids.

Selecting the right college should be based solely on the student's personal wants and needs including learning style and personal preferences. Many factors should be taken into account including whether or not the school has your desired major and extracurricular activities. Other important factors include size, location, personality of the school, availabilty of career placement after graduation. Ask yourself the following questions: Do the have the major that I am interested in? Do they offer a variety of extra-curricular activities and/or clubs that I am interested in? Is it important that I can personally ask professors questions about subject material or is a teaching assistant sufficient? Do I want to be on a campus where I know almost everyone? Will I receive a scholarship? Can I afford this financially? Is this college close enough to home that I can go home as often as I need to? Are the facilities up-to-date? Can I see myself being successful at this college for four years?

Make sure that what you want to do is offered at your college of choice and that it's accredited. If you are looking at a couple different colleges that are pretty much the same, check their extra-curricular activities and any special trips that the college offers like studying abroad. If you are interested in joining a Greek house, check out what the colleges offer. The city the college is in is also a factor you would want to look at.

When looking for a college, you need to know who you (the student) are. Look for a place that gives you the opportunity to take part in activities that you enjoy or would like to try. The best way to see if you fit in with the college is to schedule an overnight visit. Stay with a student that is involved in an activity you enjoy and see how they live their life at the college. Also, talk to admissions about what you see your perfect roommate being like. They will tell you if it is likely to be placed with someone that you will easily get along with. Make sure you visit every building on campus, and not just the ones you will be spending a majority of your time in. Oh, and don't forget to tour the area that the college is located in, because this is where you will be living and you need to be familiar and comfortable with your surroundings. Be yourself and have fun. That is the most important advice of all.