Trey
I think the most important thing to consider when picking a college is whether or not the student is comfortable there, both with the surrounding area and students. While academics is also important, I have witnessed many friends have a terrible experience at college because they chose academics first. After these two things are considered, students should consider things like sports and other extracurricular activities.
Matthew
Visit every college before making a final decision, there is nothing worse than making an uninformed decision, especially about something as important as a college education. Also ask as many questions about the college/university you can accademic, social, etc... college is alot more than just books and studying no matter waht people tell you.
Ben
The best piece of advice I have for parents and students who are trying to find the right college is to visit the schools of interest. No statistic, information booklet, or pictures can amount to a college visit. First of all, going to a college gives you an idea of what it's like to make the trip. While visiting, it's good to take a tour of the school, but possibly an even better idea is to sit in on a class or two. That way you can get an idea of what an average class is like, including the interaction between students and professors. Feeling comfortable at school may be the single most important part of a successful college experience. It is obvious that doing your research is necessary to find what schools could be best for you, but visiting your schools of interest is the best way to single out the best school for you.
Kayla
If you're bright and determined, you'll succeed anywhere. Price is important; you don't want to spend 12 years paying off 4.
chade
I would tell students to choose the schools that they like and that they can afford. College is becomming extremely expensive and choosing a good school has become a difficult task.
Andrew
I would tell your kids to be open to new things but stick to their morals. It isn't easy making the switch from highschool to college. It's a lot different. The professors are going to have your back like the teachers did in college. You are on your own now so rise to the occasion.
Monica
Visit the school if you are truely interested in it. Seeing the area and getting the experiance of the school made the biggest in deciding for me!
Chelsea
I would suggest that you find the best college for the major you want to study. I would also suggest on finding a school that gives good financial aid and has a good advising staff. When you need help at school you can really only rely on your advisor and if you don't have a good advisor your going to really struggle through school.
kia
location, location, location is essential!!
Brendan
College is a time when a student really finds out who they are. I suggest that parents and students sit down and discuss what the students interests are and what the student might want to do. I also suggest that it is ultimately the students decision and that parents should support what their son or daughter wants to do. To get the most out of your college experience do things that interest you and don't be afraid to try new things. Have fun.
Michele
Listen to your kids. Sometimes they do know what's best for them. It's hard to let your kids go, but just remember they will come around at some point. Even if your kids don't call or only call for money, you're still the most important thing to them even if they don't show it.
Brandi
While going to a college that is fitting for you acedemically is important, there are also many other factors to consider. Do you know anyone else who is going there? How much does it cost? Is it well known for the field I am choosing to study in? What are the people on campus like? What sizes are the classes? If its away from home, will you be comfortable with not seeing your family for an extended period of time, and maybe not spend holidays with them? What is the community like around the school? What recreational places are there around the school? Are there job opportunities? IS there reliable, safe transportation? IS the school safe?
These are all things I thought about when I was choosing a school. They may be hard to answer unless you are actually in these situations, but for me, I knew that I couldn't be away from my family, which is one of the major reasons I chose Temple. Think about these questions, and any you might have of your own very carefully before sending out mass applications.
Danielle
You cannot set yourself up for failure. You cannot burden yourself with petty "What If" questions but actually make something for yourself. You should always follow what you think is the best option for you and nobody else can tell you otherwise. Academics are very important but you must also have a social life to function well in this society. You need charisma and can work well with people because you will be in the work force with strangers with different personalities and a different world view of your own. College will teach you not to be so myopic in your viewpoint of the world. It will teach you to expand your thought about people and ideas and hopefully adapt new ideas for your own lifestyle.
Brittany
My advice to parents and other students looking for the right college would be to do ALOT of research. Many students do not research schools well and only visit once. It is important to talk to students that attend the school and to research the academic programs the school offers. A student can never find the perfect school because it does not exist, but you can find a school that fufills most of your needs. You want to research the majors the school offers, job oppurtunities from those majors, social life, and overall campus feel. When I was looking for the right school, I veiwed many surveys and real statements made by students from that school. These statements and survey results definitely influenced my decision.
Rannita
Choose the place that most make you feel as if you are at home, because college will be a second home.
Kerice
Visit the college campus a couple of times, do not rely only on what is told i during college tours because te tour guide can only really tell you about the good parts of the school. If you are really interested in a school, take the actually students you might seen walking around. Make school compete for you, if necessary. As the saying goes do not put all your apples into one basket... have back up options in case your primary school does not work out. Also make lots of friends ( diverse group) because something you might get bored or homesick and need that friend to make the experience more enjoyable.
Nicholas
I think that students should keep all of there options open. Look into private and public schools, out-of-state and state schools. You never know what you like unless you visit various kinds of schools. Also, to make the best of school, get involved in clubs or athletics because it's a great way to make friends and network.
Yandama
In finding the right college, students need to first know their likes or dislikes. Knowing this will narrow down the choices of what college might be suitable for them. After, students need to go on campus visits to feel the atmosphere and possibly interact with people to find out how they might fit in such environment. To make the most of the college experience, students need to be actively involved and join social organizations or clubs that are involved with the campus as a whole. This will enable them to meet new people and make more friends faster. Also, students need to set priorities the moment they walk on campus to reduce being overly stressed. Students should have these phrases at the back of their minds: "education is the root to success," "the sky is the limit," and "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."