Savannah College of Art and Design Top Questions

In order to find the right college, the advice I would give to parents and/or students would be to consider all the colleges that seem practical for them. The student should think about what type of college would best suite their needs, such as a community college or university. It will be possible to narrow down options when they consider a major and even degree they want. After they come up with the schools they are interested in they should also consider how far they are willing to travel, the area that the college is in, and the overall cost of going to that college. I would advice making an attempt to visit these colleges to get an idea of what their surroundings would be like and if it provides what they are looking for. Visiting the campuses would greatly increase the ability in making the most out of the college experience because they will know what to expect. I would also advice to get as involved with college activities as possible. This is another key way of networking and becoming familiar with people in your area of study and within the job market.

I would advise both the parents and students to be very serious about doing scholarships AT LEAST 2 years before the student intends on going to college. Most scholarship deadlines run over a several month period so there is a lot of ?wait time? to see if you won. Unfortunately, students are competing with thousands of students all over the country for that one scholarship. National scholarships are harder than local ones so see what you can do locally to get your finances. Volunteering and community service are very important for most scholarships. Be very proactive in your financial planning!

Some of the best advice I would give to parents and students is to never settle on a college. In other words, set out for a school that is perfect, that is not going to let the student down and that the student is excited to attend. Don't make money be an issue when choosing a school - there are tons of ways to pay for school, just do the research. Thousands of grants, scholarships and financial aid are available. In addition to these financial opportunities, it may even cost less to go to a school with a higher tution for students or familys with little money in the bank. If a student has the opporunity to get excited about attending their school, they are more likely to get involved, attend class, and graduate with the honors that they deserve. Settling on a school can be discouraging and disappointing for a student, so why settle when you can achieve!

The advice I would give, is to first be sure and visit multiple campuses in different locations. Visit both rural and urban and everywhere in between. If you find a school you like visit it a second time, they more you visit the more comfortable you will be there. Don't go to a school as a 'temporary school' and plan to transfer. You will not feel comfortable there and not do as well as you could. By doing this you could ultimately hurt yourself. As for making the most of your college experience, remember that there are a lot of different people at your campus. Dont try to make friends with a group of people just because they are your roommates friends. Find your own group! Also when you first arrive, be sure to make friends with your hallmates, but also go out and join a club or other activity. If you only befriend your hall mates, they will go join other clubs and leave you alone. My final advice, make at least 1 friend in every class. They will be your lifesaver when you get the flu and are out for a could of days!!!

I would give them one piece of advice - make sure you are happy. No matter what happens or how much money you spend or how busy you work, you must be happy.

Let the student go to college when they are ready. I am returning to school after 8 years and I see the maturity in the work I do then that of my peers. Since I am paying for this school myself, I am more driven to succeed. While I see other students drive as less then ambitious possibly because someone else is footing the bill. Plus, now I'm sure of what I want my career to be and what I'm looking for in a school.

When beginning the college search every student/parent needs to keep in mind who they are. The worst situation would be if someone decided to attend a school and was miserable all because they just went with the school and didn't really look into it. Make sure to look at all aspects of the school. Including the size, the courses, the time frame, the social life, the town/city, the people, the staff, the tuition, and anything else that you feel is vital to you being happy with your choice! Once you are accepted to your school of choice and you are attending it you want to make sure you get involved in activities or sports or whatever interests you! Go out and make friends! Its so sad to see students around campus who look so lonely! The only way to avoid that is by going out and getting involved! Plus, your not only having fun and meeting new people, you are adding to your resume or just to character in general, which in the long run with help you in your career! Good luck and have fun! =)

In terms of financial cost, there are plenty of options available that many people don't even know about. For instance, use FAFSA instead of private lenders for student loans. Try to get scholarships through your school - be sure to ask and look at the school website, as they won't tell you (they want your money). Get the book "Debt Cures THEY Don't Want You to Know About." There's a lot of good websites listed there including URLs of federal grant pages. Depending on the college you go to, it's not always about partying and drinking like you see in movies. Some are, but there's a lot of work involved too and at the end of the day, if you're not doing the work, you're just wasting money. I know it may feel like the friends you left in High School were your better half, but you'll get over the thought of missing them when you make new friends. They say the friends you make in college tend to last with you for the rest of your life and I believe that to be the case.

Always leave your options open, and assume for it to cost as much as possible. If it cannot be afforded, then don't even consider it. Also, student housing is a rip-off. A student could live in a nearby apartment and support themselves for a year for the amount of money student housing costs per semester/quarter., amenities included. Stay involved, and network. The people attending college today are tomorrow's industry movers and shakers. Never underestimate the value of a contact you make in college. That same guy you go play video games in his dorm room with might get your foot in the door to a firm or company you'll want to work for four years down the road. -Unless a parent can fully support you living away from them, don't even consider it. Commuting to school, while bothersome, can save a ton of money in housing costs and can allow for focus on school work rather than trying to find a job and devoting time to it, school, and homework, all at the same time.

Make wise choices think about having people around just in case you need it. Try to stay close to family.