Rice University Top Questions

Don't base it on athletics

College is a time to stretch yourself; it is a time to find a new definition of comfort. It is a whirlwind of challenges made worthwhile by triumphs. It is a time to answer questions, but also a time to ask more. Allow yourself to be confident in uncertainty. I remember those hectic days as a senior in high school, scrambling to write the perfect college essay then trying to ace my admission tests the next weekend. I remember sitting around the dining room table surrounded by glossy college catalogs, armed with my mental checklist and my desire for a beautiful library and a comfortable campus. I saw the perfect college experience as an image of myself studying under a tree with a blue sky above, my trusty textbook below, pausing long enough to greet a professor--who knew me by name, of course! Although my time at college wasn?t exactly like I imagined, I did study under a tree once or twice (while studying abroad in Peru) and I certainly had plenty of friendly, supportive contact with my professors. Things may change, but that?s okay. Set the pressure and competition aside and just let yourself BE.

Investigate. Talk to students that have the major yor are involved in extracirriculars you're interested in. Consider expenses. Are you willing to go into debt? Can you pay off debt when you graduate? What do you want from college? Just an education? An experience?

The most important factors in finding the right college are the college's strength in the major(s) you're interested in, the college's social fit, and whether it's actually practical to go there. Telling whether you'll be happy somewhere socially is the hardest, but possibly the most important. Even if you don't go somewhere that's best for your major, if you can stay energized because of the people around you, you can make up for it; contrariwise, you could go to Harvard or MIT, but if you end up unhappy with the place or the people, you probably won't succeed. To tell where is the best fit for you, you probably need to actually go there, talk to people, and take in the atmosphere. And get lucky. Once you get to college, you've gotten past the easy step. To really enjoy college, you'll need to do as much as possible in a place where you can make hundreds of new friends and learn more than you've ever learned in your life. The best, if impractical, advice I received was, "go to sleep late, wake up early; do everything."

The most important thing that students and parents can do to make the best choice they can possibly do when trying to find their best fit collge is too keep in mind all the things that they expect and want the college to provide. It's important to choose a college for it's fit to the student rather than purely based on academic prestige. A good way to decide on a college's fit is by visiting a college before or after being accepted as a prospective student and trying out classes at the college as well as social life and other college-student activities that exist. The College experience should be about finding ones passion and their purpose in life, whether the college is a good fit to the student greatly affects whether the students' ability to grow and learn.

You need to make sure and visit all of the schools you are deciding between. Schools look great on paper, and until you actually get there and walk around the campus it will be impossible to determine which one is right for you. Also, make sure you find a school that allows for an open learning environment. Too many colleges have become competitive to the point where students no longer feel comfortable working on assignments together. College should be a time when individuals not only learn academica subjects and grow intellectually, but also where they mature and develop on a personal and social level.

The most important thing to consider is a good fit for your individual needs.

Take your time and start thinking about what you want early! Also, don't set your heart on some specific place or type of experience. It's important to be flexible and positive. No college experience is ideal, but you will have a much better time if you are making the best of things rather than looking for problems!

Finding the right college is all about visiting. You can't know if a place will fit you until you go there and see it first-hand. It is possible for a place to look great on paper, but to rub you the wrong way when you visit, just as it is possible for a place to sound terrible on paper but fit like a glove when you go there. To make the most of your college experience, GET INVOLVED! Don't wait to start volunteering for organizations, running for positions, attending events, and doing all of the things that college offers. You'll meet people, make friends, and find out alot about yourself by getting involved in happenings around campus.

The college one chooses will shape the rest of their life, I urge students looking at colleges to take an active role in evaluating both their potential colleges and their own future goals. It is important for parents to advice their children, not to make the decision for them. Students should do all the research they can as well as take opportunities such as overnight stays when they are available. Choosing a college is an exciting yet important time in ones life, and the decision should be made only after adequate research.