University of Denver Top Questions

Find something that fits your needs. If you go visit a school and think, "this is the place I want to be" or "this feels right" then it probably is. Don't get too absorbed in the financial aid etc. or you might miss the perfect opportunity.

Visit the place first, talk to students, but not the ones that are assigned to you. Find students not sent to give tours who will truthfully tell you what the school is like. Try to find a person you might identify with.

Research, research, research! Before applying to and choosing colleges, take the time to review your desires and your priorities. My biggest regret is that I only applied to one school. I am relatively satisfied with my university experience, but there are many things I wish were a bit different. In order to avoid these sorts of regrets, choose the college that is truly right for you. My biggest piece of advice is not to underestimate yourself. Think going to college out of state may be too hard? Well, yes, it may be tough. However, it may also be an incredibly rewarding experience, so try it! Don't be afraid of rejection. My dream was always to go to Yale, but I was too doubtful of myself to even apply. Once you are there, be open. Make friends with people you normally would not. Take classes in fields outside of what you think you want to major in. This is your one chance to truly explore. Most importantly, push yourself. The four years go by fast and the only way to get everything you want out of them is to take control and be in charge of your own destiny. Suerte!

You should look at a multiplicity of schools and really get to know the programs and what is offered before deciding where to attend college. It is important that you find a school that fits your personality in order to emerge yourself into the college community. Additionally, you should look at what activities are offered on or near campus that you might be interested in. Study abroad is also a great experience, and if you are interested in that area check out the study abroad programs that are offered. You really want to attend a school that will fit your personality and desires.

It is vital for the students to participate in a sanctioned tour of the university. A guided tour provides a better feel for the school. A personal walk through without a guide is not sufficient.

Go where you will be happy. Not the most prestigious college you get into.

Find a place where YOU want to go, not where YOUR PARENTS want their child to go.

Do what's right for you. Don't worry about the name, or where your friends are going. You don't have to go to a big school, or a school with a party reputation just because you think that's how college is suppose to be. Make a list of the qualities you are looking for and narrow it down from there. Don't be afraid to follow your heart and do what's right for you. Don't think that any detail is not important. Think about location, size, campus community, dorms. It's a place where you are going to be spending the majority of your time at for the next few years, so make sure it is a place you are going to enjoy being at. And if it turns out its not for you, remember there is always the option to transfer, though, you'll have a better experience if you choose it right the first time. So take your time, keep an open mind, give yourself options when applying, and do what's right for you!!!

It's strange to think now, in my year after graduating college, about the anxieties and pains of choosing the right college, because so much during my undergraduate career went so right. In order to choose the right place, my best advice is to do your research, visit your top potential campuses, and go with your gut. When you do that, though, keep in mind that when you move on to college, especially in a different state, your past doesn't matter AT ALL. Go with the option that gives you the most freedom, academically and financially, to develop as a person only just beginning to grasp what it means to be a morally responsible and psychologically complicated adult. It can be a very difficult transition, and you want to be in an atmosphere that nurtures as many different points of view as possible, because if you don't at least entertain the thought of these different ideas, how can you be sure that you're moving in the right direction? It's better to move forward than to feel safe in your past, because your concept of the world at large is about to EXPLODE. Keep your options open.

I would tell them to check out the school thoroughly to make sure it is a good fit. Ask many questions and attend information sessions to help make the best decision for themselves or their child. It's a good idea to look into things like whether the school has a good track record for placing their graduates into jobs right after graduation, as well as whether students will have the right tools to help them succeed while attending the school. Also, make sure that the school they attend is affordable and what kind of repayment terms the financial aid awards require. Personally, I waited several years after graduating high school to begin attending college. Many kids waste a lot of money trying to figure out what they want to do, or they do not understand the actual privelege it is to have the opportunity to attend college. I believe it is most important to make sure you are ready before jumping in head first. After all, college is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make in your life. It is the beginning of the rest of your life!