Providence College Top Questions

College is certainly a big transition, but it is not as hard as you would think it to be. When you go to college, you have more independence, but with that independence comes responsibility. For the first time in your life, you will be in charge of yourself. You need to be able to balance both school work and a social life. Also, finding friends isn't going to be a problem. Eventually you will find friends that are just like you, and who will become your best friends for life. College really is the time that you will find yourself, and start doing your own thing. You will finally be treated as an adult, working towards your future career, and having the time of your life. The amount of school work isn't too much either. Of course it is much more rigorous than high school, but if you study hard and take an interest in what you are learning, you will be fine. By the time you finish your first year at college, or even your first semester, you will not want to leave. College will be one of your best experiences.

The only advice I would give myself if I went back in time would be to don't be afraid of making decisions or sticking with a class because in the end, you will be rewarded with really good grades.

If I were talking to myself as a high school student I would make it clear how important grades and money are. I would remind myself that you have to stick to your goal. Nowadays, when people hear the word "college", teenagers think of huge parties and drinking. The reason colleges were invented and why we go to them now, is to learn more and set us up for our future careers. So even though our fellow classmates may be partying every weekend, you must remember why you are in school. While they may joke about failing class, you should be internally laughing about how they are not going to get a good job. It is easy to get carried away by your social life, but you are growing up and this is the time in your life where your decisions truely impact your future. If you are doing well in school you should be using the extra time to get a job and/or get involved on campus like volunteering. I volunteer a lot on campus now, but I wish I had started early because it has taught me a lot about the world.

make sure you look really carefully at schools before deciding to go there

When you are college searching, try to schedule an overnight visit so that you can get a feel for how the campus runs and attend a few classes to see if you feel comfortable and like it. Make sure you research the graduation requirements to see what the core curriclum is like because that can be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing the right college. More specifically, check what courses are required for your major/minor to make sure you can complete them and anticipate them. Also, check into the financial aid department to ensure that you will receive what you need in order to attend the particular school. Some advice that I would give about making the most of your college experience is to stay focused on your studies by being organized and using your time wisely. Join a few clubs that appeal to you but do not overload yourself because it can become very overwhelming. Try to make good relationships with your professors they are a great resource.

College is an absolutely wonderful experience. My tenure at Providence College inspired me to become a professor. I am currently getting my Master's in Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Emerson College in order to make this dream come true. Finding the right college for both you and your family is an important goal. I have been lucky enough in my life to find the right match for me. I believe that students and parents should have open communication with one another in order to understand where each person in the family stands. College is an investment in the future, and it's important to make the right one. You wouldn't invest your retirement funds into a fledgling company, and you shouldn't commit to being educated somewhere that isn't right for you, either.

For the most part, all colleges are pretty similar. The most important thing isn't about class size or academic opportunities, but rather about whether or not that college can be your LIFE while you're there. Classes at once school will not very very much from classes at another school, but its important to know that you have options. More importantly, ask yourself, "Can I live at this school, walk to these classes, meet friends here, participate in these sports?" Again, it's YOUR life, so make it what YOU want it to be, not by "which school is the best according to Princeton Review."

To find the best college, there are two factors that should be considered. First, visit different colleges. Visiting schools is an exceptionally important part of selecting a college. There are a myriad of different college atmospheres that can only be explored through visitation. It is difficult to grasp college life on a campus without visiting it. Second, you will notice on your journey to college that many institutions have outrageously expensive tuition costs. Fear not! This is merely the ?sticker-price.? Scholarships are available through the particular school and through outside organizations that will aid you and your family in paying for these tuition costs. Applying for grants and scholarships can be a tiring process. Often times it can seem like a part-time job, however it is tremendously pertinent to make college more affordable. Tuition prices drop dramatically with the support of scholarships and the labor exerted to obtain these scholarships definitely pays off in the end, no pun intended. Do not let the ?sticker-price? of a college keep you from applying. Instead, apply for those scholarships and grants, and fill out the FAFSA. You may be pleasantly surprised at what the cost of attendance actually is.

Apply to many many colleges. Sometimes your first choice isn't always the best one. When visiting colleges, go to at least one that you know you'd never attend. Even if you don't apply, it'll help give you a better idea of what you do and don't want in a college. (i.e. If you want to go to a diverse school, then visit one that's not very diverse. You can then use that as a tool to assess why you want to go to a diverse one, as well as figure out what other qualities you're looking for in a college.)

Find a place where you can be you