University of Delaware Top Questions

In finding the right college, know your limits--if you want to move away from home or not. Also, try to pick a major before-hand, that way you can choose the college that has the best options for you in that field--make sure the college has enough options for you in that field in case you have a change of heart.

The transition into college life is almost universally difficult. It is a different lifestyle than most young adults are used to. However, a well chosen college can help with this change. As far as picking a college is concerned, focus on the size and typical weather of the campus as well as which school is offering the best financial aid relative to their tuition. The bit about the weather is more important than many people realize. If it is always hot, or rains a lot, or snows too much for your taste, then even an otherwise ideal school might not be the one for you. When you do get there, get to know the people you're living with. Usually, they're going through the same thing you are, and it is a great way to make new friends. Then, find a club that does the sorts of things you're interested in. The people you meet their may turn out to be some of the best friends you ever make. Finally, go to class. One of the biggest and most common mistakes I've seen new students make is skipping classes. You'll regret it. Now, get to it!

My biggest tip for parents and students when finding the right college is to follow your gut. If you feel that you'd be better in a small/large school, pay attention to that feeling. If you get a weird feeling while walking around campus, don't ignore it, it probably won't go away. Sure you can always transfer if you realize you made the wrong choice, but the transfer process is more of a pain than the original application process, and you won't have your high school counselor there to help you with it all. Plus, sending grades and transcripts are a lot cheaper as a high school student than they are once you start at a college. College is the time when you learn to transition from student to adult, from a sheltered world to absolute reality, and the last thing you need is to be uncomfortable and unhappy.

In order to find the best college, you must first determine who you are as a person. The college that you chose to attend should reflect your personality, your aspirations and the principles that you hold dear. For example, if you are a very independent person and look forward to operating in an environment with independent goals in mind, a larger school might be best, because a person who is a go-getter and individually inspired will be rewarded for their efforts. If you thrive off of comradery from peers and teachers, a smaller school, or a larger school with a more intimate setting for your major or an honors program, would fit your needs. If you are able to hone in on what your own value system is and the best setting for success for you, then you can use your own internal compass to guide you to the perfect college. It will be that college that you will be most happy at and will satisfy your needs the most. Then, you will be successful and, most importantly, happy; the perfect college comes from within you.

choose whatever you feel is right for you! i've found that UD is the best school for me and hope that you would too!

When selecting a school, get the most use out of the resources available, such as tutoring or extra help, scholarships, internships, or job availability. Make the most out of college by participating in campus activities. It makes finding friends easier when you join clubs, fraternities/sororities, sports, and other activities and gives you something to do both during the week and on the weekends. Get to know your professors whether it's a big class or small, it will benefit you in the long run. When looking for a school think what environment you see yourself most in, for example do you see yourself in the city, or suburban environment? Make friends with upper class men so you can learn more about your school and get pointers on what classes and teachers to take. Make the best out of your four years!

The FISKE guide to colleges really helped me, as well as searching through collegeboard.com. Both of these resources gave me a good look at the basic things I was interested in, such as school size, cost, what majors they offered, things like that. I think knowing what size school you are looking for is important, because that's a big part of how you learn. If you don't learn well in big classes, a huge school wouldn't be right for you. I believe making friends is easy wherever you go, but if you go to a big school and want a smaller environment, I would suggest joining some sort of club. I would suggest that anyway, to anyone, because I think it's nice to have a community within a community. You meet lots of people when you join clubs, so sign up for a bunch and see what you want to stick with! But if you don't know what type of school you're interested in, just go visit! I had no idea where I wanted to go and I couldn't be happier where I am now.

Choosing a college can be overwhelming...I know! I went to at least 12 different schools along the east coast, trying to find the one best suited for me. When trying to find the perfect school for you I suggest you keep an open mind because each school I looked at offered something special and unique. Know whether you want small classes, large leactures, and a small or large student body and that can hel you narrow down your search. Also, it helps to know what major you want to focus on! I suggest looking for an exciting student environment and the extracurricular activities each school has to offer. Look at the library and study center (you'll be spending a lot of time there!) and check out the sports facilities (intramural sports are offered at most schools and are a great way to relax). Some schools even allow you to see a dorming facility (It's not the home you're used to, trust me, but you learn to love it!!) Finally, I'll suggest looking at the University of Delaware! It's a fun school with a great student-faculty relationship and an exciting, thriving environment!

When you visit, you can feel where you belong.

Make sure you select a college you can afford. A better college may look more appealing but it's important to weigh and the pros and cons getting a degree from that institution versus graduating with a huge amount of debt. Get to know people on campus, form a social network. Get to know people in your major, it will be useful. Take advantage of any tutoring services on campus, a lot of times they're free. Always ask your professors questions, don't be too shy to raise your hand. Someone else in the room is thinking the same thing. Don't procrastinate, it will come back to hurt you.

I would first advise students to visit any schools they are interested in. Environment is important in college life and living somewhere you don't feel comfortable will ultimately hurt your college experience. Happier people will typically receive higher grades than unhappy people, so it is of the utmost importance to choose a school where you feel you can be happy. This also involves distance from home. It's important to be on your own in college, but if you're too far from home you may regret it. As far as once you are in college, my best advice would be to make as many friends as possible. Choosing only a small group of friends may put you in an awful position if you end up not liking them as much as you thought you would. Also plan your time and make sure you study. For parents, help your students find a school that is both fun and academic. After all, all work and no play makes for a dull student. College should be fun, exciting, and challenging. Look for these qualities when choosing which college is right for you.

One thing is to start searching early. Look for colleges which have distinguished faculty in their fields. Make an appointment and go visit some of your potential professors. Make sure you like them and get along with them. Especially for smaller majors. I'm a music education major and I have mostly the same professors for all four years. If I didn't get along with one of them, life in college would not be near as enjoyable as it could be. The last, most important thing is to walk around the campus. If your meant to go there it will feel right to walk around the campus. If not you will know.

I would say really think about what is important to you. Do you want to be close to home? Have a school with sport teams? The big city feel or small town? These questions can help you answer all the questions. Do research about each school and the programs offered and what sets each school apart from the others. Go visit! It is important to see the campus first hand and go multiple times if you are highly considering a school. Drive around the town and see if you can imagine living there for 4 years.

Find a school that matches your personnality, not your degree

I would suggest to students to look around at a bunch of colleges and visit before you apply. I also suggest that you apply to a couple even if you have a first choice. I would say the best way to make the most of your college experience is to get involved! Find a school that has activities and clubs that interest you. Join a club, greek organization, sports team, or communittee service organization. It is a great way to meet people your own age and even older students who can give you advice and help you through your first year. Remember college should be the best time of your life so make the most of it. Meet as many people as you can. You never know who can help you in the future. Lastly, work hard! School is never easy and you can get caught up in the social aspects of college so make sure to keep yourself grounded and focused. Remember, you will get as much out of college as you put into it!

VISIT! Try to visit the colleges that you are seriously interested in. See what kind of tours they do. Some allow you to do an overnight stay with a current student. If you are not sure what you want to major in don't pick a really expensive school at first, you can always transfer once you figure out what it is that you really want to do. Also, apply for as many scholarships as possible there are so many scholarships which mean less money you or your parents have to pay. See your high school counselor and talk to them about colleges, visits, scholarships, and any other concerns you may have. This is a very big decision to make and your counselors are there to help you find what will best suit your needs!

College is more than just four years of work, studying, and a little stress. It's more than just parties and fooling around. It's a right of passage; an incredible experience that students should feel blessed to be given such an opportunity. As a result, I feel it is important for prospective students to really consider their college choices. The choice should feel like the right choice - not just a hasty decision. But no matter where a student decides he or she should attend, it is imperative to go in with an open mind, and to try new things. These four years are our time to explore who we are, and to make the most of it - to ask questions, to make new friends, to start a new club on campus, etc.

Tour any and all colleges that seem like they have a program that might interest you. When you are touring colleges go on the official tour but also just walk around the campus to get a feel for it. If the campus doesn't feel "right" or you don't feel at home then it's probably not the school you really want to go to. Don't make your decision based on the tuition or financial aid, your happiness is about where you think you fit in not the money it costs to go there. Find schools with extra-curricular activities you are interested in, they are a great way to make friends and keep in shape if they are athletic organizations.

When it comes to finding the "right" college for students and parents, I would advise them to visit the campus and to have a general understanding of the programs that are offered at the college. Some colleges do not offer the program of interest of the student, which many parents and students do not realize. I would also tell them to consider the location of the college when it comes to deciding which college would be best for the student. Some questions to think about are "does the student prefer to live closer to home or across the country?" or "would the student prefer living in the city or the suburbs?" Making the most of your college experience is a common concern among students and parents. I would recommend that the student get involved in clubs and organizations in the school to meet new people and to explore areas of their interest. In addition, I think that it is important to attend sporting events and any other events held by the college to really feel like he or she is a part of that school.

My search was very major orientated (I'm a wildlife conservation major). I would pay attention to size of the school as well as how diverse its students and its majors are. If the student has no idea what they want to do with their life, I suggest they go to a large school where they have many options for majors. I also suggest spending a weekend there (just the student) so they can get a feel for the social environment on the weekends because that is an important factor.