The College of Wooster Top Questions

In finding the right college, students and parents really need to look at sources that DO NOT come from the schools or your high school guidance office. As wonderful as these resources are, they are incredibly biased, even your guidance office. Independent organizations and publications are really far more helpful. This advice falls under campus tours as well. While they might give you a nice overview of the school, they are also selling the school. GET IMPARTIAL ADVICE. To make the most of your college experience, get to know your professors. These people are you most important resource and if you blow them off you are doing yourself and incredible disservice. Also, do as much as you can on campus. If you're a varsity athlete, your plate if probably full already. If you aren't, then join some clubs, do the paper, see what frats are on campus. You need to make the most of your college experience, not just your college education.

Do your research! Go and visit the campus and get a feel for it. Figure out what types of things are important to you in a school and research accordingly.

In order to find the right college it is not always just about what is best for you. Instead, in my case I visited the different schools. It wasn't until I visited wooster that I realized that wooster is what I needed, and what clicked with me. I already felt as though I was a member of the community when I stayed overnight, and it seemed as though everybody else was very happy where they were physically, but also just in life while going to school in wooster. In order to make the most of your college experience, I think it is extremely important to open your eyes and heart to everyone and everything around campus. You should try as many things as possible, because it is the first and last time in your life you will probably have as many chances. Make as many friends as you can, because that just allows you to enjoy yourself more. Also, experience everything you would normally or in the past ignore. All of these things were what made my first year as enjoyable as possible, but also why I am still greatly enjoying myself.

I would definitely suggest going to visit the college and talk with random students about what they think about the school. I find that many people are pretty open about their likes and dislikes, and I believe that it gives a great insight to what the school is really like. Also, look at class size and and ask about the relationships between students and professors. In order to make the best of your college experience, don't party every weekend, don't go shopping every weekend, and don't just stay in your dorm room being a hermit. Take advantage of the programs that the college provides! You will meet so many new people and learn so many new things. Also, I would highly suggest studying abroad. It not only is fun and exciting, but it gives you a new perspective about another part of the world. (It also looks great on resumes!) Overall, college is just a place to be yourself. Don't worry about what other people do. You will find your niche, and have a great group of friends that will last a lifetime.

Pick the place that feels like home - that makes you the most at ease. Then, when you go there, enjoy it as much as you can: Four years go by way too fast and it's easy to take it for granted.

Look for the small things that intrigue you, whether it is the way people interact, certain assets of the academic programs available, or the effect clubs and groups have on campus. The small features enhance the larger picture that will lead to your career, yet push you slightly out of your comfort zone in many respects when learning and dealing with new situations that will arise in life. It is important to visit the school of interest, because the feel of campus and the atmosphere that actually exists is portrayed differently through a brochure in the mail than the reality of it. Go out on a limb to meet new people and immerse yourself in different cultures and backgrounds to expand your knowledge about the world outside of the classroom. Take some classes you would not normally choose to expose yourself to new ways of thinking, different styles of teaching, and learning about a subject that could potentially drive your future down another path of interest. The effort you put in will be the success you get out: not only in academics but in life.

I made my final decision about my college selection after my overnight visit. I was allowed to attend a classroom lecture in my intended major and was placed with a student that had similar interests. My host and I met with a diverse group of students for an informal discussion about the campus. They were very honest about the strengths and weaknesses of the college. I appreciated their honesty and candor. No institution of learning is perfect. The trick is finding the one that is a perfect match for you. The college that allows you the freedom for self discovery and self expression. That overnight experience showed me the underlying pulse of the College of Wooster and its student body. I knew after that overnight visit that this was the school that was the best fit for me. My advice to parents is to allow their student to have the majority of input in the college selection process. They ultimately are the ones that will know if it is the right fit for them.

I think that it is most important to search for a school based on the fit for the individual student, the opportunities that are available, and the success and social development that are achieved through an education from the school. These things are not reflected in many popular publications such as U.S. News and World Report and can be found in many places that are not in the 'top 20.'

The best advice I was ever given was when you find the right college or university, you will know because you will feel like you're one with it and it will feel like home to you. If you feel uncomfortable or out of place, then the college or university is probably not right for you. This advice has held true for almost everyone I have ever talked to you. The college experience is a great experience because the college world has so much to offer such as making new friends from all around the world, going out to research in various fields, to study abroad in various countries, to share those priceless moments that you create with your friends, and most importantly, to go and study what you love to do that you will spend the rest of your life doing! I recommend that you stay on campus because if not, you will miss out on a lot of memories and experiences. Lastly, the college experience is about discovering who you are and where you want go in life!

My advice would be as follows: Don't choose a college under a loved one or friend's influence; it never works the way you think it will. Instead, choose a college based on your academic preferences; you are there to learn! Find a major that you love and enjoy your classes. Do dress and for class and go to class everday; it shows repect for your professors (in which they'll return to you). Try your hardest from day one; you'll regret it otherwise. Get out there and make friends in your dorm or classes, but don't forget your family; they'll be there for you no matter what. Remember to take part in on-campus and even some off-campus activities; it'll make your experience more enjoyable. Don't be afraid to party a bit, but don't make it your ultimate college goal! Do not give up your personal beliefs or morals to make friends; they're not worth it and you'll respect yourself more for it. Finally, enjoy ever minute of it; four years may seem like a long time, but they sure do fly!