The College of Wooster Top Questions

The easy part is narrowing down the schools that fit your academic desires. Look for lots of opportunities for extracurriculars, culture, travel or whatever interests you. The more difficult part is finding the right fit. You won't know if the school is the right fit until you get there, are enrolled, and are living the life as a student at that college. You may not even be sure after the first year since the first year is often a tough adjustment. Be sure to take advantage of what the school has to offer. You really have to explore. Make sure to find an academic advisor that is not only supportive, but gives good advice and points you in the right direction. Even if you end up somewhere that is not quite what you expected or is less than ideal, I truely believe you can make it work with great friends and by insisting on attaining your dreams.

Visit! Visit! Visit! The only way to know if a College is for you is to go there, and get the feel for it. Talk to as many students as you can, and not just the ones the Admissions people find for you. You want to get it from the horse's mouth. Identify the things you care about before you start looking, but don't close your mind to factors you might not have considered. The cost of a college is what you pay after scholarships, so get figures on average financial aid and take that into account. That said, you get what you pay for, so if you think you're getting a great education and you can afford it, it's worth the extra expense. Finally, as Loren Pope says in "Colleges that change lives" (an indispensible book, by the way), "Judging a College by the quality of the students it accepts is like judging a hospital by the health of the patients it admits. It's what goes on inside that really counts." (paraphrased)

First there are the basics: consider size, location, and how much it costs to attend. The size of the student population is an important factor to take into account - don't go to a large school if you know you'll be swamped and lost, and don't go to a small school if you'll be suffocated. However, beyond these obvious factors, the most important one to me was the religious affiliation of the school. IF, and only if, religion is an important part of a student's life, then it's a good idea to attend a school within the denomination. However, if religion is not important, this doesn't much matter.

I would look at as many schools as possible, because the one that fits could always be better than the last one. Start early and keep looking until the last minute. The student should apply to schools that they have heard of before and ones they feel they will do their best at. Parents should always be supportive of their childs decisions and offer advice and not criticism. Just remember to relax and have fun at school, it is not the end of the world if you dont get straight As

There are absolutely not enough questions you can ask of the tour guides, the administration, professors. Do more than settle on one school. Most schools offer more than one hour tours as well. Schools typically offer overnight stays for prospective students. I know it can be really daunting and nerve-wrecking as a high school student and parent to go on one of these, but it's absolutely imperative that the students do. You cannot really learn what college life is like unless you live in it for a while. Actual college students are interviewed and serve a post as prospective overnight hosts to your children, and you should capitalize on these opportunities, so that you won't have to talk about an expensive transfer midway into freshman or sophomore semester because "Billy/ Susie" are disastisfied with the lack of social life at College X. Something He/She could've discovered on an overnight trip.

In order to find the right school, beginning the search process early, but not too early is probably the most helpful tool. Parents are so excited about the search process, but students, honestly, are usually not. If they are pushed too hard to even visit, then the experience will not be as beneficial as it could be. Once you start narrowing down schools, it is important to not only look at the academics and social life, but also just the environment you are in. If you apply and get into a school in rural Ohio that is great academically, but you hate cows, it is going to be a rough 4 years. If you apply to a school in downtown Chicago, and can't stand traffic, it is going to be a rough 4 years. You can make it, but it would be hard! Once at school, take time to meet people. You will meet people you immediately click with, and some that you can't stand. It takes time, but developing relationships is one of the keys to making it through school. Find people with your own interests, they are all looking for friends too! Good Luck!

Find something you truely love doing and find a way to make a living out of it! Keep your options open and do your research. (Large/small school? City or rural? Financial aid? Career guidance? Location?) It's worth the work! And most of all, enjoy your experience!

Look to your high school experience to understand what is the right fit for your college education. For me, the social element was the most important to me because I wanted to feel at home once I left everything I had ever known. I went to a small magnet high school in the city, so I thought maybe the city atmosphere was ideal. I applied and was accepted by a state school in a city. However, it was not for me. I did not like the anonymity, and therefor I was not very connected to the people or campus. My sophomore year, I transfered to a small liberal arts school where I could recognize and have great relationships with very many people, and today, I could not be more happy. Think critically about all prospective schools, and give each a chance. But just know that if you don't like the school's atmosphere, it will be hard to be your best academically, to be the best version of yourself, and to focus on your bright future.

Look carefully and survey many options

Don't flip out about what school you go to. You'll get a great education and have fun where ever you go