South Dakota State University Top Questions

See a lot of colleges and pick the campus that feels right for you. Don't go where your friends are going and pick a school that is well-known for the major you want to pursue.

I would tell parents and/or students that they need to visit each school that they are looking at. The only way to know that a school is right is to just simply visit it. A student needs to feel comfortable at school and not overwhelmed. By visiting a school a student can decide if the campus is too big or not large enough. Also when a student visits a school they can find out different activities that are available such as different clubs and intramural sports.

Pick a place where you can go home every other weekend if you get homesick.

Parents and students should think a lot about their interests and values first and find colleges with the same interests and values. I also believe that they should look into what kinds of groups they could get involved with, for example college ministries if they are religious. Meeting new people with the same interests and values at my school has made it a much better experience here at college than I thought I would have. I have made better friends here than I have had all of my life combined. To me, friendships mean so much in getting the most out of a college experience. Not only will you have a good social life with the same values, but you will have a good support group that could help you with school and your personal growth.

GET INVOLVED and get involved early. You'll never regret it.

Let the students decide where they want to go. Students should break out of there shells and get invovled and meet new people....look outside of the box!

study

Look for the most naturally friendly feeling school. Also, look for a school with a decent look of progress happening, like they are moving forward with new and exciting ideas.

I would say to guide you child but do not make the decision for them. This is their future and their life. It is their time and may be their money that they are putting in. This is one of the most important decisions that they have to make. Pressure from parents to go to one place over another just makes the process that much more difficult and sometimes the student ends up going somewhere they do not want to. In the end they do not like the place, have no fun and don't make friends all because they were trying to please someone other than themselves. I am not saying to not put your input in when they are deciding on the college or university, they will need guidance. But just know where to draw the line and let them decide. Make them tell you why they think this school is the right fit for them. That in return makes them think about why and lets you see how important or unimportant a school is to them. Get involved and don't hold back. School will be what they make of it, so go for it, be happy.

You can make being only 30 minutes away from school as far away as you want. So don't let that bother you in making a decision about stay close, or going far away. But, don't be scared to go somewhere far away for college, even if you are really close to your family.. I went to a really close school, but wish I would have went to a bigger and more diverese school...