Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

You have to remeber that this choice will affect the rest of your life so it is a very big decision. Also, you'll have to live there for 4+ years so you might as well make it at a place where you'll enjoy yourself.

I would AND do tell parents and other students to start early looking at prospective schools. Visit the campus MORE then once if you can and talk to the students you see on the campus, workers, administration, security. Randomly talk to people. Once you narrow down your choices, do the same again. Be very sure you the college your are choosing will fulfill your needs and requirements. Do not have so many expectations that the school fails to meet most of them. Always keep in mind that you are choosing a college to advance your education and NOT your personal or social life. Although those are a very important part of the calculation, you must realize that you are no longer in Kansas, meaning you are past the high school level and on your way to being an adult and dependent upon yourself more then ever before. You will be 1 or thousands instead of 1 in hundreds. Surround yourself with people that have the same expectations and similar goals and stay focused on your purpose...YOUR EDUCATION.

Save money! The biggest mistake that I am dealing with is not being financially stable and able to pay for my education. Start early and find out a plan to pay for college, especially now that it is starting to cost more. Education is more important than it was decades ago and not being able to have the knowledge because of finance is not good.

start to search as soon as their children have an idea of what they want!

Don't make that big of a deal out of finding the right place. Chances are you will come to love wherever go as long as you let yourself enjoy it and have an open mind.

The best advice I could give is that every college bound student needs to discover their passion. What makes you happy is conducive to having fun and being successful. Utilizing resources such as parents, friends, family and current students in college when deciding what school you want to apply to and/or attend is extremely helpful. In addition, traveling to these institutions that you are interested in attending is vital because it gives you a feel of what campus is like and what the students are like. You do not have to choose a career before entering college but choosing the college or university that best accommodates your interests will inevitably point you in the right direction of choosing that desired career.

My advice to parents and students trying to find the right college is to research any and all schools that you are interested in. They should definetly make plans to visit their colleges of interest and should not be afraid to ask questions about anything that has to do with the school. In order to make the most of the college experience, I recommend being open to trying new things and don't be afraid to introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you in class. I also recommend keeping yourself very organized. Being organized proves to be quite helpful when the end of the semester is close.

When it comes to choosing a college I believe that students should go to where they believe they will have the most fulfilling experience. While I realize that details such as ranking and prestige are important I believe that someone should choose the school that they think suits them best based on the whole package that the school offers and what they are looking for as a student. A variety of personal issues may arise such as financial difficulties but I think that aside from this a student should go to the school that they see fit, and while I acknowledge that parents should have a say in the school their child attends I believe that as young adults we students should be allowed to go our own way because that is what college is all about; growing up and forging our own paths. While this may all sound a tad bit clich? I think it is entirely true, if it means moving across the country or even out of the country to have the best experience one should go for it. I personally flew across the Atlantic Ocean to go to school and I think it was worth it.

don't do a campus tour. just set up a meeting with someone from the students interested major department. then spend time in the town. see what people do, what the town has to offer, etc.

What ever college gives you that weird vibe, that's where you should hink about going.