Kelley
Many parents find it hard letting their children go off to school all by themselves, sometimes hundreds of miles away. I think my parents and I mapped out college life for me perfectly. I knew I didn't want to be too far from home because I love my family very much and would miss them immensely. I'm the perfect distance away, which is about an hour. I can still go home every weekend if I wanted, but I'm still on my own when I need to be. I'd say my advice would be don't go far from home. Going to college in California may sound like a good idea, but it won't be too nice Thanksgiving day when you can't afford a plane ticket home to eat dinner with your family.
Also, apply for scholarships or anything that will help you pay the bills. Schooling is very expensive. I'm fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my education, but I still like to help them out with anything I can get, even if it's just $100 that helps me pay for books.
Lauren
Do not, under any circumstances, allow your beloved offspring, or lack there of, to attend this travesty of an institution and tax dollars by the PA state citizens. I hate Ed Rendell, and you can blame him for cutting the edjumacation budget.
kimberly
My advice to parents and students is to take their time and decide what school is best for your education based on academics. It is important to consider all finances along with academics when choosing a college. Don't choose a university because your friends or family have attended or will be attending there. College is the beginning of a life long career and it is crucial for a student to be in the proper surroundings. Also, I would suggest to a student to meet with the staff and faculty and become a familiar face in the classroom. If ever the time should arise when you need advice or assistance from a professor, it would be beneficial if they already know your face. Enjoy your college career for what it is and you will get more than an education in book smarts.
Laura
The strongest advice I could give to a student/parent, is to visit the college, get to know some of the staff and be sure to take note of the interactions of the students on campus. Pay attention to your own feeling of the campus and whether you feel you would fit in, or feel comfortable at the college. Make sure you assess the intrested course programs available, to determine whether you feel like the educations experience will be worthwhile. The other aspects, like sports, involvement, food, getting to class, ecetra will fall into place. Focus on the desireable degree available first, then how you will feel at the college. Remember, you could spend around four years at this college, if you don't like it when you look at it, you probably won't like it later.