Stanford University Top Questions

Throughout the college search and during the college years, it is most important to maintain a positive and confident attitude. There will be many students (and more parents) who view acceptance to a prestigious university as the only meaningful culmination of the high school experience. However, once these students enter that university, they declare the most demanding major, take on more work they can handle, and live in a constant state of stress--because all their lives they've been taught to "achieve as much as possible" in order to find success. This is not the way to be successful, and it is definitely not the right way to live your life. Instead, think of whatever college your heart chooses as a piece of clay: a tool that you can use to build a strong foundation for your future, and an opportunity you can mold and shape into your own personalized and perfect experience. More than anything, remember that you are in complete control of how you choose to approach every situation, and that you have the potential to be a positive and influential force in your community.

The college admissions and selection process is difficult. Take the time to figure yourself out and see which school matches with you. Yes, it's important to make sure you fit their criteria, but make sure that they have what you want as well. The relationship is mutual. Try your best to block out the pressures of society that tell you that you must go to X University to be successful. Honestly, it's more important that you get to college and use its resources to grow and develop yourself and to help others grow. That is what true success is. The biggest thing that I learned and am learning is that work will always be there. No matter how hard you try, there is always something more to be done. You must make the effort to take yourself away from the work and enjoy the awesome experiences that college can provide. For it is truly those moments with people that you will always cherish. In essence, strive for balance, take care of yourself, give back to the community, take care of your finances, define your own excellence, and call home often! That's all there is to college. :-)

Go to a school where you feel at home, where the campus just feels right to you, so make sure you visit the schools you're considering, it's an essential step. Take every opportunity you're given in your freshman year because that's when you meet the people who will be important to you for the rest of your college career, and possibly life! Take the time to get to know people, it will make all the difference in the remaining years at your school.

Do not pick a school solely based on its "rank" in categories such as academics or social life. Driven students will succeed no matter where they attend. It's very important to visit campuses and meet the students and faculty there, because when you step on the campus that's truly best for you, it will just "feel right." In order to make the most of your college experience, you must be very open-minded and try new activities. Take classes that sound interesting to you and don't commit to a major too early. College is really about leaving your comfort zone: exploring new fields and meeting a diverse group of people. If you find yourself in a rigorous academic environment, don't be afraid to take breaks to have fun and relax. Try new exercise activities such as club sports or cultural dance classes. Finally, get plenty of sleep!

Do a lot of research before hand. Talk to current or recent students about what the experience is like. Find out who liked and who didn't and why.

The bottom line is that no matter how good the college is in rank, standing, education you will recieve, etc. you need to find a place that is right for the student. I would look into things like availiability of extracurricular activities that interest you and the average amount of time students have to dedicate to things outside of the classroom. For me, my Stanford experience is not necessarily based on the fact that I am getting a good education out of it, but rather a combination of everything it has to offer in terms of things I get involved with in my spare time and flexibility of schedule. Also, if education is important, look into the school's process for choosing classes because depending on the process you may not even be able to get the classes you want. Best thing to do is to apply to as many colleges as you can, then personally visit every place you get into and ask the students of the college any questions you have rather than just going by what the tour guides say.

The college application process, while daunting in itself, is not as important as the process of finding one's ambition. Today, a bachelor's degree might not make you as strong a candidate as those with higher level degrees. The reason? Most students do not know what they want to do up until the last year of their college career. In fact, most colleges don't require a major until the students' third year. This leaves less focus on career (i.e. more on adjustment to college life) in the early years, and more "meaningful" focus on the latter (which is why some pursue higher, more focused coursework). My best advice for choosing a college is to choose an institution that will not only allow and encourage its students to immerse themselves in a variety of different career paths not , but will also provide the resources needed to complete their chosen path successfully both during the undergraduate years and beyond.

I think there needs to be a balance between what the student wants and what the parents want. Parents can help with the college decision, but the ultimate descision must rest with the student. After all, the student will be living on campus for four years -- not the parents. Parents also need to stay active in the lives of their children long before college decisions come around. Parents should encourage their kids to participate in extra-curricular activities and should also be active at the schools that their child attends in order to foster the behavior that they want their child to exhibit. A successfull carer and the building of good habits early on will probably also shape the college experience that a student will have. Making the most of ones college experience lies in learning how to balance academics with social and athletic responsiblities. Students who are able to focus on classes and grow as individuals during their four years in college also tend to be the ones who come away with a overall positive outlook on life and their college. Do not neglect social interaction during college -- you will make some of the best friends of your life.

Go on visits and interact with students if possible.

Relax. You can't make the wrong decision. It's life. Do what interests you. Discover yourself. You won't remember what you learned in the classroom, you'll remember everything else though. Learn about the people around you and try to figure out how to enjoy life on your own outside of home. You will find a niche, and life will be great. When it comes to finding the right college, that is also something you can't fret over too much. You have no idea what you really want out of college because you've never experienced it before, so pick school based on very tangible reasons, like weather, the existence of certain departments, and general surroundings/architecture. The rest of your experience is really just a luck of the draw of who's around you and who you fall in with.