Matthew
Don't hold back. Once you make your decision go in with a proactive outlook on the situation. You will never be able to succeed in life if you can not handle new situations. Yes, it may be hard to deal with the new surroundings and a different environment, but its how you deal with those situations that makes you who you are. Try to surround yourself with the right people... who are not always going to be your best friends... You need to surround yourself with people that are going to help you on your adventure through college (grades, and social situations). Have fun, because the real world awaits you... But remember the real world awaits you so don't have TOO much fun! Finally, NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. These days it's all about who you know when entering the work force. You will have unprecedent amounts of events giving you the opportunities to meet new people... take these opportunities. Always remember to have fun though... number one rule!
Kenneth
Make sure you visit the campus and its professors that the studnet will be taking classes with. Don't waster your time here because time is money
Elizabeth
Look into each college with great detail. Visit the college and ask as many questions you can about it. If you know someone personally that attends the school you are interested in, ask to meet with them so they can tell you about their personal experience and if they could would they choose their school all over again if had the change. The parents and kids should make the decision togther to find out what is the best fit for the child.
Joseph
That whether you know what major/school could best predict your future career endeavors, let yourself know that this portion of your life is experimental (at least your underclassmen years) and that it is okay to make mistake. You also have to know that those mistakes may cost you timewise and financially. You also have to make certain that you have fun throughout the college-finding process and while in college in general.
Samantha
The right college is one that has a major in the career that you one day would like to work within. You have to look at more than the majors though. You have to look at the size, what else it has to offer, such as clubs and organization, and other activities to keep you involved. Don't pick a school for the football team or the fact that your parents are alumni, you have to pick a school cause its right for you in every way.
Pat
Find a place where you can have fun and excell academically simultaneously. Make sure the size is right for you and make sure you get to know the school well before going there.
George
make sure that the size of the school and the classes are fine for you.
make sure that the school is the rigth school for you for example if the school have the major that you are pursuing.
make sure that you can afford the school and if the school have a good finacial aid status because some school are really expensive and they dont give a lot of scholarship.
Some school are boring , they have no social activities , everyone goes home during the weekend try to make sure that the school that you are applying is not like that because you might get depress or lonely if the school is like that.
at last apply to the school that you want to go not the school that your friend is going or some member of your family want you to go .
Tim
I would say you need to find something that you are passionate about and love doing before you even think about choosing a college. After you find what you love, you can pursue it at the right college and the coursework will be much easier. If you do not have a passion for something academic, then college is a good time to find that out, but it does make it a little harder to fit everything in in a financially healthy time period.
Gabrielle
Make the most of your college visits in determining the size, location, and type of school you want to attend. Talk to current students. Walk around town, check out the student centers. And most of all, go with your gut instinct. Last, but not least, if it doesn't work out, transfer. It's not the end of the world.
Jessica
Finding the right college is a daunting task for students. To find the right college, it is important to keep one quote in mind. Albert Einstein said, ?Only a life lived for others is worth living.? College is something that can be very self-entered. When applying for college many students are thinking about their advancement in academics and being prepared to find a job, but college is also about getting involved. If you go to a school where you cannot see yourself getting involved, where there is no cohesiveness between students and no connection with alumni, you are making a huge mistake. If you can?t picture yourself giving back to your school and attempting to make it a better place, you are cutting yourself short. It is through involvement and the help of others that individuals succeed. In my college experience, it seems that Einstein?s words ring to be true. If you focus on choosing a school where you can live a life for others, you will unconsciously be bettering yourself, preparing for success, and basking in every minute of college. This approach and mentality can make every students? years in college not only enjoyable, but rewarding.
Dax
My advice is to look at every aspects of the university from the classes you want to take to where you want to live. You should consider the finacial aid the school is will to offer, the size of school and number of students, campus scenery, does the school offers your major or variety of othe majors and everything that is important to you.
Kimberly
Find a place that feels like home. Make sure there is plenty to be involved in. Don't worry about big class sizes, just sit close to the front, professors are totally willing to help out. Don't make money an issue, if you find a place you love but its too expensive, take out loans, its totally worth it, trust me. Find a place you can be yourself and not worry about fitting in with a specific group. Find a place with tradition and proud alumni, that really says a lot about a school. Find a place that makes you feel secure and there are no worries about your safety. Find a place that is in a nice area with lots to do. Find a place that has tons of majors so if you need to change your mind, you can. Find a place that has a wide course selection so you can take whatever you want. Most importantly, find a place that is you. Find a place that you can be happy at for the next four years. Find THE place that is the absolute perfect fit and enjoy!
Lauren
Parents - take your children's preferences to heart - don't choose for them - I believe that by my parents allowing me to make my college choice, it has given me more drive and determination to succeed. Students - study hard and take your college experience seriously. You have the rest of your life to relax and have fun. College is the ground work to provide you with a great future and career.
Lauren
When looking for the right college can be a struggle for some students. The best thing would to first research colleges online to see what they are all about. Try to narrow down your list of colleges by looking at the degrees offered and extracurricular activities that they offer. Also, it is important for you to consider the cost, exspecially if you have to finance your own college experience by yourself. Another important factor would be to look at the class sizes. Some students don't like the idea of large classes where you could feel like just a number. After you get a list of colleges that offer the major you plan on pursuing and considered the other factors such as cost, set up an appointment to tour the campus. My tour with Penn State was the deciding factor in why I came here. Once I got to see the campus, I just knew that this was the right choice. To make the most out of your college experience, get involved in other activities and clubs. That is the best way to make friends and enjoy college. Also, make sure you make use of the resources available to you.
Ben
Come to Penn State! ~Joe Paterno.
Seriously, come to Penn State--it is cheap and has tons of resources. Its especially good if you dont know what to major in, since we have over 180 majors and many are nationally ranked.
To make the most of your college experience, be balanced. Spend time with freinds and spend time on work. I have found that doing one will make the other feel more satisfying. Get involved in a Christian group on campus...you wont regret it!
David
I think college is a choice you don't want to jump into. You should prepare for college in your sophmore or junior year in high school, take as many campus visits as you can, and really consider what you want out of the experience. I rushed into choosing a school that I feel doesn't really fit my style, and I have been unhappy with my experience for the most part. So really be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure that the school you attend is what you really want to do.
Michael
When i was going over my application responses and deciding between the 4 schools that i was accepted into I kept trying to picture myself with the t-shirt of the school. I only visited 2 schools. The moment I stepped on the campus of PSU i knew it was for me. I got caught up in the enviornment of the school, the football stadium, and the beautiful girls (haha). Now i am not trying to say that i made a mistake in chosing Penn State, but what i am trying to say is that there is more to a school than the football team and its people. I got really lucky in finding out that Penn State has one of the top 3 Hospitality Programs in the country. My best advice is to try and find out how good the school you are interested in is at setting you up for a career. How far is that school going to go to get companies to not only come and interview you, but fight over you. I want a school that gives me all the opportunities to be successful in my career, and Penn State did that for me.
Kaitlyn
To find the perfect college for you, simply think a little bit about, well..you! Even though it is difficult to know with certainty whether a particular school will be "the one" or not, you can make a decision that will give you the most options. When I decided to go to Penn State, I had no clue what it would be like no matter how hard I tried to envision this future life, on my own, four hours away. So I went ahead and chose a large school with road range of majors and extra-curriculars. This gave me some peace of mind because I knew that it would give me options to find my own niche. If you're like my past self, confused, worried, uncertain; pick a school that you could vitually do anything in and you'll have little to worry about.
Once you get to college, do not just be open to new experiences, but be actively open. By this I mean go seek out clubs or sports, seek out as many as you can in the first week and sit in a meeting. You'll never know what might spark your interest.
shauna
Look at the school while it is in session, talk to the students,if you know anyone have them take you on their own tour as opposed to the university tour, stay overnight in the dorms if it is possible. Keep an open mind, for instance a large school can turn into a smaller community if you join a group such as a sorority/fraternity. There is a school out there for everyone.