Rhodes College Top Questions

Making friends is great. You are not going to have a problem with that. But don't be afraid to make even more friends than you initially will. Breaking out of that bubble will eliminate the high school feel of attending a small campus. By intertwining yourself with more eclectic groups of people around campus, you will make yourself happier and improve your networking skills for the future. It is vital to learn these types of skills early. A degree is very important for the future, but so is knowing the right people. By combining your education and people skills, you are almost guaranteed to be sucessful in your life. I'm not suggesting you go out and get crazy every weekend at parties, but just make sure you aren't closing yourself off to people who could potentially determine your future. Take this advice seriously, and your will go far.

I would tell myself to not get in the mindset that college is easy. It is not what everyone assume. Getting into college is not the end, yet the beginning. You must work hard and attend as many, if not all, classes as possible. Don't start your college adventure off bad, do all work and never procrastinate because it will bite you in the butt later. Do not give in to pressure of partying every night because it is not good for your health and more than likely your grades will suffer as well. It is possible to have fun and do well in classes; however, you must manage you time and make wise decisions. Nonetheless, don't stress too much because college is suppose to be fun considering afterwards you must get a job and officially become an adult!

Be careful to make your own decisions, for your own reasons, and only when you're ready. Don't be swayed by other people's ideas or actions. However, try to keep an open mind and be accepting of other people.

Before you run off to college understand that change is a constant and natural occurrence. Change should happen naturally, on its own terms, in its own time. In four years you wont be the same person you are now, and as of right now you don?t know where you'll be in four years. So In anticipation to the open ended future ahead, keep an open mind. Don?t try to push yourself in any particular direction. Don?t make early commitments. Don?t limit your social scene to your comfort zone, because as you change so will this zone. Don?t try too hard to find a fit, let the fit find you. Transitions in life should be welcomed without expectation so that all oppurtunities can be considered. You dont want to miss out on any for the future you. Dont join that fraternity. It will attempt to define your on campus character, but i promise you that not even eight months from now it might not be such an accurate description of who you really want to be.

I have been incredibly happy with my college decision, and I was definitely fortunate enough to have a mother who understood the true value of education, how vitally important the college experience is to a driven student. The main reason many of my high school friends remain unhappy with their college choices is in part due to the rising costs in institutions of higher learning. Essentially, they made the financially safe choice, instead of their ideal choice. Although this works for some people, I would urge against that. As corny as this may sound, I would advise parents to let their children follow their dreams, and allow them to make the college choice that would provide the most meaningful and engaging four years of their lives. I believe that my time at Rhodes has made me understand how important learning is to me and how much I want to utilize this knowledge to not only allow me to survive in adulthood, but to thrive in it. Drowning a student in an unsuitable environment may be economically advisable, but it might ultimately deprive that person out of an incredible self-learning experience.

Visiting websites and looking at brochures are good ways to narrow down your list of potential colleges, but nothing can compare to visiting your favorite schools in person. When you set foot on the school that is right for you, you will feel right at home. Visiting a college will tell you much more about what it is really like than simply reading the information published by that school. Look at the students; if they are happy at their school, it will show. It is also wise to visit a college before you even apply to it. College visits demonstrate that you have a real interest in attending that school and a note of your visit will be made on your application. The interest you showed could make the difference between your application being accepted or denied. Once you are accepted to a school you have already visited, you will be more prepared to make your final decision on which school to attend. Then, the only thing left to do is to enjoy every minute of it. Going to the right school for you will allow you to be comfortable and happy, even in a totally new environment.

Spend the time visiting and researching each school extensively. Don't rely on one visit and work of mouth.

Finding the right coolege is crucial in the quality of life that you or your child will expereince in the next four years. Choose somewhere that can really help you reach your career goals. Try not to concentrate so much on the social atmosphere of any place, because almost any school can provide you with excellent social activities. When considering different schools, attend classes if possible and meet with the professors. Be prepared to do plenty of research into lots of different schools in order to choose the right college.

I would say look for a school that requires or encourages outside service and volunteering. I wouldn't ahve done it if my school didn't encourage it, but I am so glad I did as far as scholarships fo and because of what I learned from doing them. Also ask about how good your school is at hooking students up with internships and careers once school is over. Also it helps to think about where you want to end up after school and try and go to college in that area because chances are thats where you will be making the best connections while at school.

Really consider what the prospective student values most -- whether it be academics, student diversity, or professor interaction. I also think location of the school is incredibely important. I wish I would've chosen a larger college as well.