Transylvania University Top Questions

Keep your options open and don't be afraid to take loans if that's what it takes!

Visit every college you can. Do an overnight visit. Definitely sit in on one of the classes. You can't judge a college by information in a pamphlet or through word of mouth. You just have to experience it yourself and find which makes you feel most comfortable. Only you can judge what college is right for you.

When choosing a school that will provide a good environment for you, you first have to know what you want to get out of your college experience, and then find a school that will cater to your wants and needs. For example, if you want to be very involved, find a school with many different student organizations. Or, if you want a more personal college experience, then you should try to find a school with smaller class sizes. Also, the value of visiting many different colleges and staying overnight on many campuses before making any final decisions should not be underestimated! Once you have found the right school for you, don't hold back! Don't be afraid to talk to people you wouldn't normally talk to, try new activities that you wouldn't have otherwise tried, and take classes that you are truly interested in. Take advantage of all the programs (tutoring, counseling, etc.) that your school offers, and get to know your professors and classmates. They will be there when your family can't! But most of all, remember to have a little fun, and do something just for yourself every once in a while!

Find a college that first best fits your childs learning style, and location. Work hard to get scholarships, and grants. Visit the college during events and during regular class days so you get to see the real college not the dressed up version. This also allows you to meet people, and know what it's like on a social level.

From my experience I have found that college can be a sheltering environment where one gets self-absorbed and cut off from the reality that is life. It is easy to get into the social scene and lose sight of the main reason why we learn: to be better people. I would search for the school that would give you the best learning experience possible without the emphasis on creating friendships and social ties. Have confidence in your social skills and let that not be a reason why you pick the place you do. You can make friends no matter the city you choose. What is of the utmost importance is learning, growing, and experiencing. So choose a place that encourages all three. Choose a place that shows you the world instead of sheltering you with campus life and drama. In essence, the place you choose should be the world placed right in front of your eyes.

College is your home away from home so you have to make sure that you find the one that fits you best. Don't settle for anything less, go out and try to find what you think is going to fit you the best. Never try to make a decision based on other people around you, its not their future, its yours! Make sure that you keep that in mind and that your school is going to best for what you want to do later on.

I would encourage parents and students to work together to find the college that best suits both of them. I almost made the wrong college choice because I was afraid to move away from home. However, once I stepped out into the college world I realized that moving away from home was exactly what I needed to do to excell in my life. My mother was very supportive in my moving away because she realized that this choice was the best one for me. Had we not worked together on this choice, I may have missed out on the best opportunity of my life.

Visit the colleges and talk to as many people as you can to get a real idea about what life is like at that school. Don't take what the school tells you at face value-they are trying to make themselves appear to advantage, so you probably are not going to get the whole story.

I would tell students to follow your gut. If you attend an overnight visit or tour and you truely believe that you can fit in and enjoy your time on that campus, then go there! I've found through my own choices and the choices of friends that second guessing yourself never works out in the end. As for parents, please don't try to make this decision for your child. I have friends that are attending the school of their parent's choice, and take it from me, they may be close to home but they aren't too overly happy with their parents. This is a time for your child to grow and mature, but its also a time for you to let go. Once you make your decision, get involved! Find friends that you can hang and study with and who are accepting of you as yourself! Don't tyr to be someone you are not! For those old enough to remember the Magic Schoolbus, "make mistakes and get messy" for you are entering the best and most memorable years of your life. Good luck!

To find the right college, one must remember this word: experience. It took me a few campuses until I found the right one. It's important to submerge yourself in the lifestyles of several different schools, meeting different people, and learning the fundamentals of each school's program. And not just academic programs, either! A healthy social life is important in choosing the right school: because without people to lift you up after a hard week's worth of school work, how does one get anything out of college but a one-sided education, which is only halfway helpful for the real world. Thats why it's important to test the waters, so to speak, before decided on the right college for you.