Seton Hall University Top Questions

Make sure you budget the college and try to get as much help financially from the school as possible. Make sure the student is comfortable and it is an envionrnment that they want to be in.

In college, be open and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Take little steps doing new things, and eventually you'll find your niche and succeed, making lasting friendships in the process.

I would say that visiting is a great thing to help you determine which school is right for the student and to make the most of it, get involved! Its the best way to make your college experience the best it can be. With classes giving you work and being stressed out, a group of friends is the best way to make it through.

I would encourage students to apply to every school in which they are interested. Parents should give their children the freedom to make their own, unencumbered decisions. The time to live vicariously through one's children, if there ever really is a time, is not during applications pocesses such as these. The students should of course take advice from family, friends, but ultimately, it should be their decision. In addition, pecuniary needs are an important factor, but do not let them be the ultimate factor. Loans will be paid off.

It is my belief that community is an integral part of the college experience. In addition to finding a college with suitable merit and academic standards, I think that an important part of university life is made of its people and the events they organize, ranging from internship to community service opportunities. Many organizations on my campus, Seton Hall University, are entirely student-run, such as the well-known radio station, WSOU, while others are run by faculty. Students and faculty often play a very active role in the university community. To find a school whose academics and community are both of worth, I recommend consulting an alumni of each university investigated. Alumni can have a lot to say about the college experience and be living descriptions of their campuses. Further, they can continue to be very much involved in campus activities, and helping new students adjust or find internships, such as some upperclassmen and alumni did for me.

Don't change yourself to fit into a college - let the college fit you. Think of yourself not as a prospective student, but as a student with prospective colleges. Make a list of necessary criteria your school should meet, and reserach each institution based on your needs list. A monkish disciplined student nearly void of original sin should not apply to a party school, nor should the talented musician join an intensive technical academy just to please her parents. Some items to think about are class size, demographics, student organizations, price range, and academic programs. Academic programs should be perfect matches to your criteria because they are the core purpose of your college attendance. Research the faculty and staff, their publications, the work of school graduates, and ask yourself if you can learn something from these people. Can you commit to the level of the program's intensity? If not, there are many more options out there. A diploma is just a piece of paper, wherever it's from. The importance is graduating with fond memories, professional skills, and the ability to excel afterward.

Its a very hard and stressfull time for both students and parents so I would advise both to be patient with each other and talk things out instead of fighting.

Don't base your choices off what your peers are doing. Pick somewhere that you think you personally will actually enjoy, and if you know what you want to study then pick a place that has a good program in it. Social life and extracurriculars are important, but the purpose of college is to learn and earn a degree, so that should take priority.

weight your options.

Make sure that you make the choice for yourself! Don't let anyone pressure you into making the choice for you. Your choice of college will affect you, not only for the next 2-4 years, but for the rest of your life! Make sure the college has the kind of programs you're looking for, because, in most cases, choosing a college is the first step in choosing a career path that you will have to stick with for the rest of your adult life. Choose a major that fits you, and don't only think about the money. If you choose a major you like, you will be able to make money doing whatever it is that you choose. Happiness is much more important! Good luck with your search, and have a happy future!