Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

When I headed into college, I wish someone would have prepared me onto what I was about to venture into. Finding friends when you're 18-years-old isn't the most easy experience. Don't give up and continue. Eventually you will find a group of people that you fit most with. To find the correct college, go with what you're most comfortable with. Don't go for all the flash and the hype. Go for what's best for you. Go for your major or for the locallity or for the size.

Evaluate your own personal wants and needs before looking at colleges. Knowing what kind of experience you are expecting can be very helpful when you are visiting and applying for college. Once you have been accepted to college, go where is right for you, not your friends or family or anyone else that may influence you. Once you get to college, be yourself. Find you specific niche on your campus, and no matter how large or small you campus may be, there will be a place for you. Be active on campus by joinging clubs and organizations. Study! Pay close attention to your school work, since that is the number one reason you are in college. Mostly, have fun.

make sure (really sure) you are OK with the physical size. your gonna be walking it all day every day.

I would suggest that they go and view the schools that they desire attending. This will give the student a feel of the atmosphere of the college and the students that already attend. After deciding which college fits your wants and needs then the student should focus on academics but always set some time aside for fun on the weekends with friends. This allows for some built up stress to be relieved and it also allows the student to build life long relationships with new friends. A positive outlook is always helpful when put into a new situation so keep an open mind and make sure the glass is always half full.

Visit lots of universities and talk to random students you see walking around. Ask them their opinion of the school, if their professors know their name, and anything else you think is important. If the student is helpful that will give you a good judge of the atmosphere on campus not to mention honest answers. Don't judge a small state school as a bad school, often undergrads will be treated better than grad students at large universities. Afterall if you dislike it after the first semester you saved a few thousand dollars to get some geneds out of the way and you can transfer. As for making the most of college experience: be brave and try new things (keep the new things legal though), get to know your professors, join a lot of clubs your first semester, take a philosphy course and learn new ways of thinkings about things. Remember that college is about learning and not the degree, a long list of awards and activites is more impressive and m ore fun than a high GPA. Most i mportantly to do well you need to love your major, if you don't you won't succeed.

I feel that choosing the right college is a hard thing to do. Knowing what college to attend, after going through the acceptance letters, is even harder. When you visit the schools that you are thinking about attending, you must talk to YOUR professors. You must talk to the students who you will be with throughout your journey in college. However, you'll know what college is right for you at some point. Whether it be, when you step foot out of your parents car or after a talk with a fellow student or professor, you'll know that you're at the right college. You'll never forget that moment as well as many others you will make over the next few years. Have fun.

Start early. I waited until my senior year in high school to start considering colleges. I found I was rushed and unprepared to make the decision. I chose a school based on my parents' opinions. Originally I started at a private college that was extremely overpriced and found myself in the wrong school. I transferred which made life much more difficult in the long run. If I had to do it again I would've done my research earlier in high school, taken it more seriously and committed to staying at a school. High school didn't prepare me enough to make this decision and in return I had no idea was to expect. Colleges should visit high schools more often and tours should be advertised better. Resources should be aimed towards high school aged students instead of their parents. I would suggest, if the school offers, to spend a night with a current student to get the full experience. Sit in during a class and observe the style of teaching as well as the other students' abilities. Check out both the academic and social programs offered at the school. Check out the dorms and dining areas.

To students: You are going to be at a certain college for (most likely) 4 years of your life. Make sure you choose a college by the focus on education - your major or concentrations, class sizes, and the accesibility of off-campus stores (Giant, CVS, etc.) but most importantly, the campus. What kind of "feel" do you get from the campus? You should love the campus you are staying at. Getting involved in clubs and activities is the easiest way to make friends; however, during your first semester, do not take on more clubs than you can handle. Have fun with your friends; it's college!! Most only get this opportunity once in their lives. Enjoy your time at college, but always remember that you have a job. Your job at college is to go to class. Yes, these are the most enjoyable days of your young lives, but these are also the years of your prime learning experience. Take advantage of it and excel proudly. Go to class, do your work, and participate in class.

I would say make sure that the school you choose is one that's for you and has every and any activity you want because it would be miserable if you get there andrealize you want more. Also use Facebook as a resource to find current and former students and find out every possible thing you can about the school like the best dorm to live in and the best professors to pick to make the most of your experience.

My advice to parents and/or students would be to first think it through. Have all of your options available infront of you and sit down to make a list of all the positive and negative aspects of each college you have chosen. Decide what you may like to study or major in at college, then begin making appointments to see the schools. Talk to some people who are currently attending or who have graduated to see what their opinion is on the school. I would advise making several visitations to the schools just to be sure that what you have chosen feels right for you. If the school offers a stay over, where you can stay over with a current student for one night, I would take advantage of it. This can help you decide whether or not you want to attend this school. After you have began narrowing down the choices, start applying to these schools, and while you are waiting to hear back from the college, start looking to find scholarships (if you need them). Once you have been accepted to one or more college, begin making a decision as to where you want to go.