Saint Ambrose University Top Questions

When trying to decide which college is right for you, really take the time to visit the schools you apply to. It also helps to do an overnight stay if it is offered, because it really shows you what your college experience would be like. In order to make the most of your college experience, really make sure you make great friends. That is the biggest thing especially if you are going away to school, because your friends really do become your family. Last but not least, make sure you have fun. You are only at college once and you should enjoy it, but dont enjoy it too much. You cant party at the school if you've flunked out. HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!!!

I would tell students to read "One More Thing Before You Go" by Maria Shriver. It really helped me to understand the process of breaking away from my parents and how to deal with growing up. I would visit many colleges in your senior year of high school. To make most of your college experience, break out of your shell. Don't be shy and afraid to talk to people or go to an event by yourself, and get involved. All you need is confidence. Don't fall behind in your studies, if you go to class and do your homework you will do just fine. Just make sure you have a balance between a social life and your academic life! I would tell the parents, that if you love your childreen you will let them go. Please try not to hold onto them, and try to treat them like adults.

To the students: A few tips for you before you choose a school. 1. Don't be influenced by what everyone else wants you to do. You are the one that has to live with the decision for at least the next four years, so make it because it is what you want. 2. Visit as many schools as it takes to find the right fit. I suggest wandering the campus alone to get a better feel without being pressured. 3. Know that everyone is different and what was right for one person doesn't make it right for you. Find a place that you can be yourself. When you get there: 1. Find a schedule that works for you. 2. Learn how to separate work from play; the work needs to be done in order to enjoy yourself. 3. Take time to have fun; this is the time in your life when you have the least amount of responsibilities, so take advantage of that but don't do anything you will regret later. To the parents: 1. Understand what your child needs to be successful. 2. Listen to your child with an open mind 3. Love your child unconditionally!

Students: Chossing the right college can be frustrating, but when you choose the right one you will know. Make sure it has your major, and if you are undecided be sure they have plenty of majors for you to sample! Remember that the college you choose is going to be your home for the next four years or more. Always carry a planner! You will have a lot of time on your hands, so use it wisely! Make friends, and always leave your door open (when you're in you room). I met my best friend while my door was open, and now we are roommates! Your college experience will be an emotional rollercoaster, but in the end you will look back and see that it has made you stronger. Parents: This is the time your son or daughter learns to be an adult. Just be there to listen, guide (when they ask), and be their ATM! A care package from home is a great way to send your love. Mail from home is always great. Never stop telling them you love them, and depending on your relationship phone calls are great too!

The best advice I could give about finding the right college and making the most of the experience is to visit as many schools as possible. This should include overnight visits with current students and attending a class, as well. The key to college is finding a place you can thrive in, but still be comfortable. For example, I was actually enrolled at University of Illinois until only a month before my freshman year in college. After attending my orientation that summer, I realized that while I could certainly get a good education there, I could never be comfortable with my surroundings. While having a school of almost 40,000 students and lectures with around 500 may appeal to some, I found out almost too late that I could not put myself into that environment. At St. Ambrose, I am still focusing at my academics, but in a setting I can enjoy. Until a student does these things, they can never know how their college experience will be until it starts. Always remember that even extensive research cannot compare to actually having the experience yourself.

For students and parents of students searching for the right college I would say to have an idea of what you want and give yourselves plently of time to search and explore colleges. You need to know what your ideal college would look like, the academic program it would have, the extracurriculars. You may find that perfect college, but more realistically you will find something close to it, not perfect, but good, maybe even great! If you know what you want you can search out colleges that have those things and eliminate those that do not. I would also tell students and their parents searching for colleges to remember that a college experience is what YOU make out of it. You need to be at a place with a academic program that fits your needs and that has activities you are interested in, but at the end of the say YOU will be the one who makes your college experience what it is. Remember to not neglect those personal things that mean a lot to you, when searching for a college. They may seem small and insignificant, but if they mean something to you, you SHOULD consider them.

Visit alot of different colleges and universities. If you know money will be tight talk to the financial aid offices at the school and your bank; most schools will help you alot if you really want to be there. Visit both large state schools as well as small private schools. Take into careul consideration the distance from home and the commute to get home. Start saving quarters.

Research and visit all the colleges you can. It helps to visit as many schools as you can in order to help you eliminate the schools that are not a good fit for you. It also helps to research and visit schools so you can see what aspects you do like in schools. If you can try to, talk to alumni of schools you might be interested in. See what the alumni have to say about their experiences at that school. Make sure you know how much growth potential a school has; see where it was 10 years ago, and what it hopes to achieve in the future.

My advice to give would to let your child decide for themselves what kind of school they would like to go to. Also to allow them to take time to think about what it is they would want to major in. It seems that a lot of students are pressured to pick a major from the start of college. It can be difficult to know what it is you want to do with your life. Also take advantage of school activities and don't be afraid to meet new people even if they are different then what you are used to, you never know who could turn out to be a great friend.

Don't be afraid to take chances and really decide on what exactly it is that you want in a college so that you will be completely happy with your choice in schools