Matthew
Most importantly visit the school. Set up appointments with professors in the major you will be studying. Talk to other students that have been going to the school for a while, ask them what they do for fun, ask them for their honest opinions on the education they are receiving and experiences they are having. Try and get a feel for the city or town in which the school is located, make an extended stay there if possible. Talk to locals and students about what the city has to offer as far as outdoor activities, recreation and entertainment. Basically, just be outgoing and really dig deep and try and find out what the schools about by asking lots of people lots of questions. Even if they get annoyed, which they probably wont, or your embarressed to so, still do it because in the long run it will help. Just keep in mind that what you learn while visiting the school and talking to people has the potential to drastically change your live (or your sons or daughter).
Holly
Start looking early and know that whatever college you choose, there is a good chance that you will end up fitting in.
Nicole
Rember that kids will be home sick, so if you think they will be. I would say have them go to college somewhere close to home. Also dont go to a college just becuase you're friends or boy/girl friend are going there. Tell you're kids that they will have many friends at college, just rember some might not be a good choice for you're academics.
Rachel
Find a place that makes you feel comfortable and at home and everything else will come together.
Marcus
Not to try and decide what you want to do right away. It seems that so many people are still unsure of what they do and even change their minds in the process that you should simply focus on an area of interest and see where it takes you. In my own experience I tried too hard to find just one thing to do, and if you personally know what thing then run with it, but otherwise don't stress about finding it. It'll reveal itself on its own.
Molly
College is what you make of it. People can promise you the world from one campus to the next, but when you get there you need to find your niche and make your presence known. Get to know your professors, get to know your classmates, get a job, get roomates who you love, make a mark!
Andrew
Find a college that has the education you are looking for as well as the location you would like to live. Extracurricular activities are very important in college so make sure it is somewhere you can have fun.
Elisabeth
Parents, I want to remind you that while it is your job to guide your child, they should make their own choice as to where they should attend school. Even if Billy or Sally wants to all the way across the country, that is okay. It hurts to let them go, but it's important that they be where they are happy.
Students, please go where you are happy. Don't let money stand in your way. There are jobs and loans and grants for you, if you look for them. It is better to get a good education than to get a cheap one. So many of us are going to be graduating in a ton of debt. That's okay! If you get a good education to do a job you love, what should that matter? As for making the most of the college experience, GO TO CLASS. Even if you only listen 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time, that's 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} more you heard than if you didn't go. You pay good money to be there, so get your money's worth! Join clubs, too! That's a great way to make friends with similar interests.
Antionette
Trying to find the right college can be an adventure if you treat it like one. When I was searching for colleges my first step was finding out if it had the field of study that I was hoping to take. After I found a few colleges that seemed interesting I did the best thing you can do, I visited the campus. You can learn anything you need at a campus tour. You meet real students and get a feel for your surroundings. My first tour is when I fell in love with Northern Michigan University. College visits was an important bonding experience for my parents and I. After seeing how happy I was in the college setting their fears for my future were pacified.
Thao
Choose the school that suits you best, don't choose it because your best friend is going there. Choose the school you feel most comfortable with, I'm sure there is a higher chance of success if you're comfortable in your learning environment. Good luck!
Lindsay
Make new friends!!!! Too many people spend too much time the first two weeks calling old High School friends and complaining about how much they miss eachoter. Be open minded, be courageous, and meet the people around you!!!
Josh
Apply to many colleges, the application processes and fees are nothing in the long run to keep your options open. Weigh your options and factor in things that are most important to you, such as location, prestige, size, etc. As far as making the most of your college experience, TRY NEW THINGS! You will learn a lot about yourself and make new friends, there are so many activities on any campus that there is always something new to try.
Gray
Get a good tour of the of the prospective schools. Here the staff and faculty have to say, but also get a feel for what the students who not doing the tour think about the school. Make sure to be open to new things and willing to step out of your comfort zone at times.
Eric
I would tell parents and students to really look into a number of different schools and what each school has to offer. I would also encourage them to go on a campus visit and meet with factualty in their field of interest. When they attend a college, I would tell them to find students organizations they would be interested in and get involved. I would also tell them that they are paying for college for a reason and they should try to make it to every class they can.
Darell
Find a campus that speaks to you and has many of the same values that you hold. If you are passionate about being green find a campus that is the same, be sure to ask questions when you visit. Don't worry too much about the money as you will be in debt whatever you do, just get a smart loan and try and save a little while you are in school. Many parents and students have trouble with the separation, this is normal, remember even though you are far away you can still call your parents/student as often as you want, that is what cell phones are for. When you talk often it doesn't feel like you are that far apart at all. Most important of all is to find friends that you can study with and have fun with, often at the time. You should enjoy your time at college, yeah learning is important but so are the experiences connections that you make, so set aside some time to hang with your friends on occassion and just blow off some steam. That fun time is what makes the time pass and prevents college burn out.
Rochelle
Make sure you visit the campus and they have the right classes for your major; make sure they have your major!
Chelsea
Visit! Visit! Visit! The most important advice I could give to parents and students trying to find the right college is to check out the school during an academic week and talk with other students to get the scoop on the academics and social life of the school as well as what is fun to do off-campus. Once the student has chosen the school that fits his or her personality and academic goals, the first thing to do is to find out how to somehow get involved, whether it is on or off-campus. Taking advantage of what the school and university have to offer will make any college experience more worthwhile and unforgettable!
Brooke
Prioritize the qualities you want in a college. In all likelyhood, not every college is going to have all the qualities you want, so it is important to decide which ones are the most important.
Chelsea
Take your time and really look at your options. You will fail, but you will succeed. Go easy on yourself.