Oklahoma Baptist University Top Questions

The right college should express the comforts, the dreams, the ideals, and the attitude of the person. My school is small and woody, therefore I feel more cozy and more able to focus on studies as I bask in the comforts of nature. It gives me the feeling that I am in the midst of the beautiful green meadows near Oxford, England and that makes me feel like I am in a place of legacy -- a place that is passionate about literature and the arts. If a student finds comfort in city life and in social interaction, look at schools that support and hold up that need for noise and intense human interaction. Every one learns and feels comfortable in different settings, so go with that mindset. And above all else, know first what you want to do for the world after you leave. Find a place that nurtures your ideal picture of world change. You are at school to learn how to make a difference, how to leave a legacy, how to blend history with the present. Never forget that while your university reflects who you are, you will be a product of that university's life lessons.

College is one of the most life altering experiences a person can have. I would recommend not just going where your friends or significant other are going. Choose the college based on what best suits who you are as a person. Once you find the school that fits the type of education you desire and the social atmosphere that you enjoy, go for it! Once you're there live up every minute you can. Get involved with things you may not have normally done in highschool. Just be sure that you don't take on too much seeing as how this might interfere with your school work. Be prepared to learn, work hard, and be challeged every day.

Picking a college is a very difficult decision. This is the place where you are going to spend for years of your life and begin your journey into a career so it is also a very important decision. It is best to consider all options and not to be too scared to take a leap and try something completely out of the ordinary if it feels right. When I was looking through college information, OBU just stood out to me. There was something about the beauty of the campus and the description of the college that just felt right. I knew that this was the place I needed to be. Although this school was really far away, and my parents and I were really hesitant at first, I am so glad I took the leap and went there. I learned life skills, to be independent, and also made friendships that will last me a lifetime.

I would say visit visit visit! You can only learn so much about a school by looking at the website. Plan a day and go look at the school first hand. Most schools have days set aside for prospective students where you can attend class or visit with students and those are really the best. Check with the prospective students group and even see if you can stay the night in the dorm. Being on campus and getting a first hand view of what the school is like is one of the best ways to see if the school is right for you. On the financial aid aspect of it all, constantly keep in touch with your FA advisor. Talk to them and make sure they know what you are capable of doing financially and where you need more help. There is plenty of money out there you just have to be willing to look for it. When you get to school make sure you get out there and meet new people. Remember that there are a lot of people going through what you are going through. Get together and help eachother out as much as you can.

My advice to parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of your college experience is to start early, and to visit beforehand. My biggest regret in my college search is that I started too late. Thankfully, it did not hamper my ability to get into the university that I needed to be in, but it really affected my chance at obtaining a full-tuition scholarship. Never be satisfied with what grades you make on your first SAT, or on your AP tests, but start early and continue to strive to improve. It has definitely been a struggle since to continually need to seek financial aid, and that is not a burden anyone wants. The visit is the most important part to having a successful college experience. Without it, you will never be able to know the community that you are about to join, and if you're like me, it will sell the university to you. I'm so thankful that I went to visit Oklahoma Baptist, because otherwise I might have made the mistake of going where I didn't need to be. All I can say now is get going and good luck!

My advice is to start early and make sure to go to all the schools that you are interested in and check out the campus and students. For parents I would say dont try and force your child into rushing and picking a college that you would like them to go to. I believe that as a growing adult the choice of college is important and should be handled with care. Life is so important and choosing the correct college is one of the most important things that any student could ever do.

Make sure that you're comfortable with the campus, try to schedule a visit to get a guided tour of the campus. Sometimes a school will have an overnight visit and you can even sit in on a few classes. I think this is a very helpful way to get a feel for the campus life.

To students I would say, make a list of the top five things you want in a college. Find the school that fits those. Strongly consider all the reasons why you would be unhappy at a school. Be mindful of how much financial aid you will be receiving and how much you plan to continue receiving. Ask questions about student life on campus. Does it fit your scene? When you arrive on campus, studying is important. It is after all, the reason you are there. Don't neglect your studies. But don't isolate yourself and not make friends either. Find a balance between studying and maintaining a social life. To parents, allow your child to make the decision on their own. Weigh in on the decision and bring light to issues that you think they might not notice or might not realize are big issues, but allow them to make the decision on their own. When they move away, let them be the people you have raised them to be. Don't smother them or allow them to come home all the time. Expect them to behave like adults.

You should really find out what you as the student are truly passionate about, don't study something that you kind of like or you think is something you can just get by with. College is too expensive to just try and figure it out as you go. It is much easier to succeed in school when what you are studying is something you love and you know that the classes you are taking are relevant to what you will be doing after you graduate.

In my experience with trying to find the right school, I had to explore each school that I was looking to go to. I went to visit the schools and took a tours to see each campus and saw a few things the schools had to offer. I went to seminars on how they handled financial aide packets, and got to see first hand what it was about, and what each school was looking for. After I narrowed it t down to two or three schools, I met the people who would be my teachers to see if I like them and thought about if I could be with them for the next 4 years of my life, and after that I thought about everything the schools had to offer me and decided on the University that I am at now. I suggest to future college students and their parents to make a list of a few school the student would like to attend and do what I did, go explore the school and see what each one has to offer you. After all your future depends on the school you choose!