University of Mount Union Top Questions

College is the transitional step between the real world and being a kid. It makes you more aware, responsible, and dedicated. College shapes you into the person you decide to become with the help of professors, mentors, new friends, and clubs. It is important to make the most of your college experience, because only you can control your life and where you go. It is up to you to set goals for yourself and make the choices to reach them. College is a wonderful experience that should not be taken for granted, but should be lived to the fullest in every aspect. Without pushing yourself and learning your own capabilities, you will never know the endless possibilities of goals you can reach and surpass by creating new ones. Most importantly, plan ahead, but live in the moment because you can never go back and recreate this amazing experience called college.

I would advise myself that it is critical to just remain calm and that the transition is awkward for everyone. Almost everyone at college is making the same transisiton that I am and they are just as nervous as I am as well. The professors and staff on campus are willing to do anything to help you and you should use them to your advantage. I would also tell myself that I need to attend the meetings of different groups across campus because they will make my transisiton as lot easier. The people at college just want to have fun and socialize so don't be afraid of conversation. Making friends in a new place isn't as hard as it seems.

In finding the right college I believe that feeling welcome is very important. I chose Mount Union because I felt welcomed and invited and that feeling is what provided me with the opportunity to succeed. Feeling welcome allowed me to dive head first into my classes as well as into getting involved on campus. With the presence of comfort and the absence of fear I have become the president of organizations, the student representative on faculty committees and a coordinator for our New Student Orienation program. Feeling welcome, I was able to easily approach my professors and advisors and was able to ask for help when I needed it. The sense of welcome also provides a challenge to new students. If you feel welcome at a college/university, you have already cleared one hurdle- you don't have to worry as much about feeling unwanted or out of place. Without the uneasy feeling of feeling out of place you can immediately focus your energy on becoming an active part of the community that has welcomed you. Lastly, it is important that both parents and students communicate. Both parents and students should feel comfortable about the instiution in question.

When deciding on a school do the following: Talk to a faculty member in the department you want to study in. Make sure that the school has the support services and help that you need. To get the most out of your college experience do the following: Get involved in activities related to your major and pay attention to what is happening on campus. Don't miss out on any of the educational stuff or any of the fun stuff. Meet new people, don't be afraid to make friends with people who have different backgrounds and interests, they will enrich your life.

It is essential to sit down ahead of time and plan out what is important to you in a school. Schedule campus visits to all schools you are considering; any college can look good on paper but a college is more than the buildings- it is the people and feeling you get when you are there. When finding the college that's right for you, take into consideration the size. Big schools, offer more possibilities and networking but you often become just a number in the classroom where at a smaller school you get more one-on-one attention. Take into consideration the social scenery and emphasis on frat/sorority life. Sure we all want to have fun, but at what point does it become a distraction from your main reason for being there? Remember it is you paying, how will the money be spent?! Keep a clear goal of your future and make sure your college has the resources to get you on the right track as well as enough options in case your mind waivers. Get involved! Not everything you learn will be taught in the classroom. Often times it is learned through intuition and personal experiences.

In finding the right college I would advise parents or students to find a college they know that will be in range in tuition. Another factor that comes in is the school size, whether they prefer a large school or a small school. Some advice I would give to making the most of college is to get out there and join student activities. I would tell them to play intramurals join a fraturnity or soroity, even playing a varsity sport if possible.

I would have to say that once you know you know. When I walked on campus I felt at home and I knew everything would be alright. You will be away from your family so pick a place that you feel comfortable at. Look at all the majors and activities before you go on a visit. If you don't do that then you might fall in love with a campus that does not offer what you want to do. Just follow your heart and it will work out in your favor.

Find a campus that feels right from the start. If you went to a small high school and got tired of the drama...don't pick a small campus. If you want to be lost and no one know your every move, pick a bigger campus. Make sure the college has your major and a strong department. Ask around.

The advice I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to really do some research. Take a look at the academics offered and how good the academics are. Take a visit to the campus and have a tour with someone during the school year. This will help both the students and parents to see for themselves what the college looks like on a typical day when school is in session. Getting the sight for themselves can help them visualize if that particular college is the right place for them.

Visit as many schools as you can. Make sure that they are above and below your price range, varying sizes, and look at schools that are different distances away from home. Make sure that the school has the program(s) you are looking for. Narrow your choices down to a few schools: your dream school, the local community college and a few in between. Revisit those schools and sit down with the admissions and financial aid departments and talk to them. While you are there, talk to faculty in you interested field of study and students who attend the school and get their perspectives about the campus. You are going to be spending a lot of money so you want to make sure you are happy. Starting college is a scary experience. Do not get discouraged if you feel alone and overwhelmed, every one feels that way at the begining of their first semester. Do not run home every chance you get, that just makes you feel more alone. Instead find a group with which you share interests. The sooner you attepmt to make friends the faster you will. College classes are different than high school. Don't give up!

Make sure you like the environment and surroundings. Also class size and involvement with your professors are very important. If involved with sports or clubs in high school you should look hard for a school that has extracurricular activities so you do not become bored and have an enjoyable college experience!

Visit the school before you decide. Even if you think that it looks great in pictures or that you would relate to the people, the best way to get the most out of your decision is to visit and see for yourself.

Go wherever you feel the most comfortable.

In order to choose the right college you need to go out and experience all the different options. Use careful planning based on your sitution and visit the ones that interest you and you may be surprised. College is supposed to be the best four years of your life, but it will not be if you do not enjoy where you are. When you get on campus, you always have to ask youself, "can I see myself here?" If you can't, then you know the answer to whether you should go there or not already. Make sure that the college you choose also follows in your beliefs. Your college choice should fit you, you should not try to fit into the collge. Overall, go in open minded and enjoy every minute! :-)

Find the most relevant and affordable school. Take tours and visit the schools before attending.

In order to find the right college, parents and students should take a number of actions. First, they should research a wide array of colleges and universities. Once they have gathered information on various schools, they should evaluate schools on what seems like the best fit for their son or daughter. In order to validate their top choices, they should make arrangements to tour the schools. In order for the students to get a true feel for the school, they should schedule a stay over and sit in on classes that they may be interested in taking. In addition, students should apply for financial aid and as many scholarships as possible; an education is very expensive and students should do whatever they can to acquire financial help. In order to make the most of your college experience, I would stress the importance of getting involved. By getting involved, you have the chance to meet new people and to also find out what you are trully made of. In addition, getting involved allows students to learn how to manage busy schedules. I would also urge students to study hard; academic success will prepare them for their futures.

I would tell students to pick the school in which they feel most at home. After all, you will be spending four or more years at the school you pick, so you want to be comfortable there. Visit the school more than once. Sometimes you can't get a good feel of what the school is really like on the first visit, so it is best to come for a few visits before making a decision. To make the most out of your college experience you need to get a group of friends that are as focused as you are on what they want in life. You don't need to hang around with people who aren't focused on there academics because they will distract you from what is important-- your academics.

Visit the campus during busy school hours to see what it's like during class hours. Students are encouraged to stay overnight (dorms are suggested) on a visit to see what the social life/academic life is like during the week or on the weekends. Make sure you know if you want to attend a smaller campus where you can be involved in more individual help or a larger campus for a more sociable experience. Check the majors and minors that are offered and some of the extracurricular activites you can be involved in. Visit the dorms/apartments and be aware of the surrounding neighborhoods for safety and knowledge of social awareness.

When looking for a college, think about location and cost. Some people prefer staying close to home, some do not. This is important in remaining at college. Cost is very important too. There are many great colleges and some are more affordable than others. Take this into consideration because no one wants to be in serious dept immediately upon graduation. While at college, take advantage of the atmosphere and the many activities offered. This will increase your social network, and it will make your college experience more enjoyable. Having friends makes the adjustment easier and soon you will feel very at home. As far as classes go, make sure you attend as often as possible. Skipping class can be detrimental. You are paying to be there, so you might as well get your money's worth. Attending class and keeping up with the homework will make your life so much easier. College does not have to be difficult if you can learn how to appropriately manage your time. There is plenty of time for friends and parties, so focus on your work during the week. This will lead to great success!

The aspect of college is something that no one can really describe, you just kind of have to experience it for yourself. Parents and students need to make sure that they are applying to as many scholarships as possible. They need to know that every little bit of money counts, even if it is only fifty or a hundred dollars. The college application process is not something to joke around about, and students need to make sure that when choosing where to attend school, that it is a school that fits their type of lifestyle. From experience, I had the choice to go to a huge university or Mount Union, and due to my lifestyle and personality, I decided that the smaller of the two would work best. College is all about experiencing something new in your life, so when you get there do not sit around and wait for everything to come to you. Make the most of it and get out there to make friends. You never know who you might meet once you start college. It is a whole new stage of your life, so do not pass it by, have as much fun as you can.