Antara
When choosing a college, make sure that you are not simply taking the next assumed step from highschool. An undergraduate degree must be earned willingly and eagarly for the work to reflect in the grades. If you do not want to be there, then do not waste your time and money. Know what you want. Be decisive. And do not hesitate to explore beyond your textbooks and enjoy the learning experience. It is a privalage.
Leonard
Go and visit the schools to include the academic advisors and teachers. Don't just go by what you read or get at orientations you need to physically go to each of the areas that your student will interact with and get a feel for the people who work there. You need to talk to the financial program advisors, academic advisors and counsellors. Look at the rooms where your students will stay, the places they will eat on campus and the security available at the dorms and campus.
Adelle
When I was choosing a college, the most important part of the decision-making process was that I was just as satisfied with a potential school as my parents were. It is easy for parents to try to persuade children to attend their alma mater or their personal favorite, but the student is the one who needs to be happy with their experience. Additionally, non-academic opportunities in the surrounding area are crucial to a student's satisfaction.
When choosing a school, it is important to consider not only the campus and the academics, but what the surrounding area provides as well. In order to get the total college experience, off-campus and non-academic opportunities can be just as important as intellectually stimulating classes.
Finally, remember that you are about to embark on four years of amazing experiences, new and lifelong friends, and some of the best times of your life. This should be something to look forward to and to be excited about, so remember that when the applications, interviews, and campus tours start to overwhelm you.
Stephanie
make sure you really look into the schools you're applying to and remember that sometimes the place you least expect will be the best for you. and enjoy your undergraduate degree while you're there because it goes by faster than you want.
Lauren
Make sure you tour your campus choices! That was what gave me my final push, the people and atmosphere at my college is great , and you get that feel on tours and campus visits! Dont just sit online!
Laura
Every freshman has a professor tell them that to get the most of their college experience, they have to do more than the minimum required of them. I remember Profesora Bustos telling us that we should read extra books outside the ones on the syllabus. We should plan ahead so that our papers were thoughtful and well organized. I was never as thorough as she suggested but I did more work than most. I thought an A at the end of the semester reflected this. It wasn't until my final year that I realized what Profesora Bustos meant. I wasn't happy to slack off and get an A. Only when I put in extra effort did I feel good about myself.
I would tell future students that they should have fun, that's part of college too. Pick a college that has a good atmosphere and set in community you know you'll like. Start early on projects and it'll be easier. But to get the most from college, you eventually have to do more than the bare minimun. In the end, it's not your GPA. It's how you grade yourself, that matters most.
John
Visit the college, talk to students who have gone to school, talk to the freshman orientation folks and spend some time at the campus.
Leslie
Visit the college in advance and ask lots of questions.
Bess
I believe that in order to find the right college, you must go and visit the prospective school. Take a few days to stay in the town or city. Experience what the area has to offer; is it an outdoors focused town, or a thriving metropolis? Go to restaurants, stores, shops, movies, and local attractions around the school. Take a few days to experience campus; sit in on classes, lectures, club meetings, activities, theater, music, and performances. Ask current students about their experience at the prospective school. Try to immerse yourself into that campus and the surrounding area to find out if it is a good fit for you or your children. To make the most out of college, my advice is to get involved. What are your interests and passions? Does your school have clubs, organizations, or groups that cater to those? If so, sign up for them all! I have met 85{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my college friends through involvement in student groups and organizations. Take a wide variety of classes, talk one on one with your professors, and carve out a niche for yourself. You are paying for it, so make it a worthwile experience.
Joshua
Let go of your kids, and let them experience life! look at unique small town schools