Southern Virginia University Top Questions

Make sure you're comfortable with the people and surroundings, that they have the major that you are interested in, and when someone tells you that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the campus, don't believe them. Look for the bad in the campus as well as the good so it doesn't surprise you later.

You don't need to know what you want to "be when you grow up" before you start school... very few ever do... some never do. In fact; I think that is irrelevant to life in general. If you can't be happy until you get where you're going... you will never be happy. Career goals are like horizons, once you get there you see another one in the distance, which is a good thing if you enjoy the journey. When you think about a campus; make sure you can be happy in the here and now of it all. Chances are, if you enjoy your schooling, you will enjoy your life. You often hear people say: "Enjoy college; best years of your life." But I seriously doubt that a younger, sleep deprived, final-exam-stricken version of that person would say the same thing, however; I can imagine someone saying, "Chemistry final was a killer! Good class though, huh?" and that same person, in retrospect will say "Enjoy college; life is too short not to."

Find a college that fits your social needs and one that will provide the best structure for your academic success.

To the parents, let your kids make the decision it will be them that will be spending the next four plus years at the school, so if you opinions are different talk to your child are really listen to what they have to say and how they feel about the schools that are or are not right for them. To the students, don't fall behind. Stay on top of your school work. The worst thing you can do is fall behind from the beginning. Do your school work and i promise that you will still have time for fun.

My best advice to parents and/or students who are involved in the search for the right school is to start early. I began looking at different colleges through search engines such as Peterson's during my sophomore year. By using a search engine I was able to search for what I wanted and get a list of schools that would fit my needs. I wanted a smaller campus and a school with a very good Business program. I also was a constant in the guidance office in my high school, scanning viewbooks from colleges all over like it was my job. Due to the fact that I started a search so early I realized what I wanted, and what I was absolutely not looking for. This search eventually lead me to Southern Virginia University. It was my top pick for almost 2 years to the date when I got accepted. A student who is in the search for the perfect college needs to start early in order to weed out all the schools that will not provide them with what they need and to find that perfect fit that will provide them with knowledge for the real world.

Many students use college as an opportunity to find themselves. So my advice would be to pick a college that is going to help you become the person you'd like to be five years from now. If you think partying and having a good time is all that is important then it doesn't really matter where you go and I wonder why you're even bothering. But if you're like me and you have goals and dreams and are willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to reach them, then make sure you pick a school that opens doors to your interests because ultimately if you don't, you'll always wonder if you could have succeeded had you choosen another college. And let me emphasize "variety of interests" you want a school that isn't going to draw limits, you want a school that is going to broaden your life experiences and give you a chance to learn everything you can "hands on". Lastly, if you want to rise to the top, learn how to serve classmates in leadership positions, it'll help you grow as a person and as a leader.

Look for a good environment, and not the biggest school either. Small school means that your child will get more one on one time with their teachers. And they will feel more at home because they will make many friends and you don't have to worry about them having friends that are into bad things.

Have an idea about what you would like to study, and make sure that your school offers that. Be sure that the location of the school is where you want (or the type of atmosphere). Make sure that tuition is something that you find resonable for what they offer. Check to see if they have clubs etc that you are interested in.

When picking the right college I feel the student needs to research what colleges they would like to go and then pray about. Pray about it as a family and then let the student pray about it by themselves. Trust you son or daughter with the choice that they had made. Making the most of the college experience get involved! Meet new people and always particpate in class make your teachers notice you as someone who has a desire to learn and always be exrtremly friendly with the college's faculty and staff they are the ones who do most things for you while you are there. Just remember to smile and have a great attiutde about your school and life.

First off, do your research. Find out general facts about the school. Size, cost, etc. Then, compare those factors to other options on your choice list. If a school on there sounds better than most, you should go visit it. Stay there long enough to go to some activities and socialize with the people. Both students and staff. Maybe even attend some classes. Observe how you feel when you are on the campus. Does it suit your personality? Could you see yourself coming to that school and liking it? Keep a journal or record these thoughts. If there was more than one school you visited, then compare your feelings and observances. Take some time to ponder these things in your mind. It is a big decision and you should cover all the bases before you commit. It is better to take more time deciding because you will graduate quicker and happier if you chose the place you will get your degree. It will reduce stress in the future because you won't have to repeat the decision process again and worry about transfer credits. It takes a leap of faith, but if it feels right, let nobody stop you.