St Lawrence University Top Questions

The advice that I would give parents is to not interfere with the college process and to let their children decide where they want to go.

I would tell the parent/students to visit as many schools as you want. Try and set up a tour of the school and try to spend a night at the school so you can get a good feel for it. Make sure the campus is in a good location. I believe that most people when they step onto a campus will know whether or not they will like the school. Also make sure you get involved with as many activities as possible on campus to socialize with the student body.

Find a place where you feel comfortable, and where you feel you can succeed and enjoy college.

I would tell them to spend an overnight at the school, and see if you can get a good feeling for what the school is like on weekends. You don't think it will be that important now but it will be once you're stuck there. Also, take the time to meet professors because it will give you a good feel for what kind of teachers the school employs.

Pay attention to the location of the school and how far away it is from your home. My home is only a little under two hours away from my school, but that is far enough that I have my own life here at school (my family rarely visits), yet going home for breaks is convenient. I can just drive my car, and I don't have to worry about traveling or the amount of luggage or anything. Also, definitely visit the campus. All schools look pretty in the brochures, but when you actually visit the school you get a feel for its nuances and for the social atmosphere. My chosen school was very open with the tours and such, and other schools i have toured made it seem like I was bothering them when i asked to see certain buildings or dorms. The school should WANT to show you their buildings and facilities. If they don't, then ask yourself, "What are they trying to hide?". If you can do an overnight stay with a student, definitely do it. You learn so much more about the school when you spend time with actual students, not just tour guides.

The best advice I could give someone about finding the right college is to go to a college that fits you. It should be the size you want in a community you have hobbies to partake in. Class size and the feeling you get on a visit will tell you a lot about how it will be attending there. Its a good idea to talk to some of the kids that go there and get their insight on what happens on campus before you decide if its the college for you. And also check out the menu at the dining hall, if its stuff you could see yourself eating thats good, but if you dont like it, youll still be stuck with it for 4 years once you are there. Go to college for you, not your family. Youll be the one spending 4 years of your life there.

To find the right college, you really need to visit the largest variety of campuses possible. You need to feel the atmosphere of both large and small schools, public and private, before you can make the right choice. Once you're there, it's important to get involved with everything you can think of/have time for. Join a club, try out for a team, even get an on-campus job; all these opportunities will allow you to meet new and interesting people.

Students should try to be as involved with the campus community as possible without letting it interfere with academic responsibilities-especially the free events since your tuition has an involvement with it. Try to participate in a sport, especially intramurals or a theatrical showcase because the friends you make there are those that'll stick by your side when you truly need it. When it comes to finding the right school, look for one that'll have the class size that'll suit you, along with the geography and location of the campus. If you like small communities, check out the campus to make sure it's fitting. If you dislike winter and snow, try not attending a school in the snow. Make sure the school offers what you need academically then worry about location, weather and extrecurriculars because that's why you are going to school, the fun stuff is simply a bonus, but a campus that has activities will help you destress as well as make frienships that'll last a lifetime!

It takes time =]

St. Lawernce or SLU as we call it, is an amazing place. There are not that many students here, becasuse we are a small liberal arts school, but what you gain are really great solid relationships. You get the chance to know people which is great. It's very cold in the North Country but you can not even tell because people are so kind and welcoming. The advice I would give to parents and students looking at schools, would be that students should really visit all the schools that they are considering. You never know until you get there. Don't let the price of a school dictate if you apply or not. Just believe in your choice and there is a way.

Parents, let your child pick the school they really want to go to, especially if that school promises the best future, and has the capability to follow through. Students, ask you parents for advise. I know that you are at the same stage I was at not too long ago, but they do know a lot more than they let on at first, so give them a chance to give their opinions before making a rash, life-changing decision.

do college vists its the best way to really see the campus and the college

It's important to remember that the decision should ultimately be up to the student. Attending a college because of its reputation or its financial aid package may not be the best factors to use when deciding on a school. Make sure to take overnight visits to your top schools to really understand how it might feel to go there; you'll get to visit classes, meet some of the people, hang out in the dorms. You'll get a glimpse at what both the academic and social life is at your schools. It may sound silly, but once you've done that, go with your intuition. I'd consider myself a pretty rational person, and I chose my college based on the financial aid package it offered me. I realize now that it probably wasn't the smartest choice, as I may have been happier at a college I got a better "feel" for when I did an overnight visit. If worst comes to worst, just remember, it's only four years!

Always take academics and financial aid into account, but what it really comes down to is the gut feeling. Go where you feel like you most belong or feel the most comfortable with the campus population. Doing an admissions overnight at a school can really help decide this.

I would tell parents and students to think less about which colleges make the top ranks of US news and world report and more about what they want to do with the next four years. When students and parents visit colleges, they should pay attention to the students and professors they meet and the things that are happening on campus. Academically, the college experience is up to the individual, and so is the individual's future career and success. When students are choosing a college, they are choosing a new home and an environment that will shape them for the rest of their lives. Students should be looking for a college with classes and professors that engage them, as well as interesting people and activities. As far as making the most of the college experience: try all of the things you want to do and commit to the ones that you genuinely love. Attending college is not about building a resume, it is about exploring new ideas and finding the things you love to do.

Trust your instincts. Reading books on colleges and looking through information on the internet can be very useful ways of determining what colleges you might want to look at. But when push comes to shove, the most important thing is how you feel when you are actually there. If you have the chance to visit a school, do. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions while you are there. Talk to students as well, and not just the ones who are giving you the tours. Pay attention to how you feel when you are there, and compare the way you feel at different colleges. If it feels like a good fit, chances are it probably is. Once you are at school, be an active participant in your education and be open to new experiences. Your professors are people too, and they generally like it when you talk to them. Some of my most unique opportunites (such as a free trip to Malaysia to do research, or a teaching assistant position) arose from a simple conversation with a professor. If something interests you in the slightest, give it a try and see what happens. And have fun too.

Students should choose potential colleges based on their interests, and investigate the various academic, extracurricular, and social activities at each school. Visiting is also essential: the college may look great in the brochure (as most do), but a visit can tell you if the school feels like it would be the right fit. Don't be afraid to call the admissions office or student life office. There are usually many current students working in these departments who would be glad to talk to you on the phone or through email and give you an inside, student's perspective of life there. Take full advantage of everything your school has to offer. Attend lectures and special events, go to concerts and art exhibitions, sit in the stands or on the sidelines and cheer on your favorite sports team. Learn the traditional songs, jokes, and secrets of the school. Try a new sport or activity. Take a course in a department you are unfamiliar with. Who knows, you may discover a new passion and change your path completely. Smile at the people you pass on campus, and expand your circle of friends. Let your college experience make you the best you possible.

For me, the college experience starts well before junior and senior year of high school. Preparing for school is essential. Take the time to take difficult courses that will help you prepare for a college workload-- it will be well worth it. Some will tell you college is a piece of cake, and don't get me wrong-- it can be if you want it to be. But to get the most out of your education, take advantage of the courses that will intellectually challenge you, but also take ones that interest you. It's amazing how a communications class can somehow tie in to what you're learning in your global studies class. Outside of the classroom, embrace what the college or university has to offer. Join clubs, teams, or other activities-- or become a leader and start your own. You have a blank slate in college. You have the ability to draw and color in who you are, so take advantage of it!

College, like any experience, is about an equal balance of giving and receiving. I think that a great number of colleges would have been perfectly happy places for me to attend, but my experience is about investing time, effort, and care. I see so many students float through college with passing grades and bustling social lives, but many do not take the time to think about what they truly want from their time here on campus. College is about challenging yourself to thinking, knowing, and minding in different ways. I have made the choice to engage in the community around me; I participate in numerous extracurricular activities, and I hold a few positions of leadership on campus. I am not paying tuition to have just a fun experience, but I want to learn things about myself and the world around me in order to generate positive change. To any student looking to go to college, I would encourage that individual to get involved - challenge yourself. Take a class on something you have never heard of before. Try a new club with people much different than you are. Find what makes you happy and take control of your education.

Attend the school that you feel most comfortable with. Don't base your choice off of what others may believe or which school may commonly have a "better reputation."