Texas Christian University Top Questions

To the parents I would recommend being open-minded. Don't try to press a University on your child that you went to, or try to influence you child's decision. Encourage him or her as much as possible. To the students, the minute you enter orientation or whatever other welcoming activities that the University provides, meet everyone. Try to be as sociable and geniunely nice to everyone you meet, as they might end up someday being the person who can get you a job, or assist you in some way. Networking is one of the most important skills that you can learn and develop while in college. Also, while socializing is fun, be careful with alcohol, every year lots of college freshmen drink underage, and there are always a few that drink far too much and die. On a lighter note, be prepared to put your nose to the grindstone the moment you begin classes. Your first semester grades are extremely important, as they set you up to having a stellar GPA the whole of your college career. You don't want to have a bad semester and have to catch up. Most importantly though, relax and have fun.

To let the student make their own choice. It doesn't really matter where you go to college - these days, it seems as though the degree itself is all that matters. If the student is forced by his or her parents to attend one college, for whatever reason (a "big-name" university, or one with a long family tradition, etc), then that student will not be able to have the same experience that he or she would be able to at his or her first choice school. And, if the student is happier with their college choice, then he or she will be happier overall, and will therefore do better in school. To make the most of the college experience, I would simply say that you shouldn't be afraid to try new things and meet new people, because you never know who or what might radically change your life or your perspective thereof.

Visit the college that you are wanting to attend. You will never really know how you like it until you put yourself in the situation!

work hard

Visit!

Make sure that you visit the college! Don't necessarily let money be the make-it-or-break-it factor. Go where the school has a great department in whatever you are interested in. Major in something that you love! Consider the town that your school is in. TCU and Baylor are a lot alike, but Fort Worth is a lot better than Waco could ever be. This truly changes your college experience! Try to find a city that you would love to live in if you weren't going to school there. The community that surrounds your school, parents, will have a huge impact on your child!

The best advice I can give a family when making a decision to finding the right college is simple. Visit the school and go for your gut instinct. It is also good to remember that just because it may not be an Ivy League does not mean you won't get a good quality of education. At the end of the day, whatever choice you make should be the one that most satisfies you as a student, not anyone else. So choose the school where you will the feel most comfortable and where you feel like you can grow as a person!

You can never do enough research

Definitely enjoy it while you are there. When you're a freshman you think you're so old and before you realize it, you're a senior and you've become role models for the other classes without even realizing it. Make the most of your college experience by at least trying everything you would like to be part of. It's okay to not do everything like you did in the past. There will be hard times, incredibly fun and memorable times and the best and worst of times. In order to appreciate one, you'll have to go through the other. You can't appreciate the best times without ever experiencing the worst. Go with your instinct and follow your heart. Very rarely, do they disappoint. Work hard and have fun. Don't worry about looking stupid or not fitting in because chances are the person right beside you is in fear of the same thing. College is an opportunity to start anew. Cherish everything because graduation comes quickly in four, five and sometimes even six years.

Parents need to understand that their kids are going to be making their own choices at school, and they need to trust that their kids paid enough attention while they were growing up to make the right choices. Students, this is your time to reinvent yourself and find out what you like doing. Don't feel boxed in by your major, take college as an opportunity to experience everything you want to, but remember you have to live with all the decisions you make. Picking a college shouldn't be all about the academics. Look at the things that are important to you whether they be clubs, athletics, academics, or anything else. Don't be afraid to start at one school and end at a different school. If the school you start at doesn't fit you then don't stay their for the next three years. Make the decisions you feel that are best for you.