Chelsea
When applying for colleges you need to stop and think about what you want to get out of the university. Do you want a school where you can be very social, that has lots of activities and social events? Do you want a school that focuses mainly on academics and will give you astonishing work experiences for your resume when you graduate? Knowing your self will help make the transition from high school to college that much easier.
Ben
Spend some time on the campus before making your decision students who give the tour are usually the ones with the biased opinion
Nicholas
"Find the college that is right for you!" is a common saying. The way to do that is to visit each school. I am a tour guide and orientation leader at my school and some of the opportunities we offer are overnight stays for prospective students, be a college student for a day, and student forums where the parents and prospective students are about to ask full time students about our experiences at the school. Take advantage of all these opportunities and if they are not directly offered to you, ask! It's a way to really understand what it's like at that school. Also, talk to professors in the field of study you are interested in. They will help you to get a visual on what a sample schedule might be for you in your first semester. My one piece of advice I give to all prospective students is to become involved. No matter whether you are a commuter or a resident, there is always a way to become involved in a club or sport on campus. If the campus doesn't offer a club you?re interested in, there is always a way to get it started.
Ashley
The advice I have for parents and college bound students is to look at everything when it comes to college. I went for the freedom from parents and the name which is not always the best option. Make a list of what you want no expect out of your college, visit the colleges you have in mind and bring your list, check off or note the things that can be a problem. Ask questions and make sure that it is what you really want not what looks good on your resume or great for social recreation. Because in the long run you could not be doing so well in that environment and have to leave there to attend another school or stay at your "dream college" and graduate, only to not be as trained for the world or job market like other students striving for that same job at a firm or corporation. Last thing I leave, is to invite your parents in on the discussion and visits because even though we do not think it, our parents have been there and they know what to look for and how their college years were. The best desicions are made together.