Lauren
To parents I would advise to direct and guide giving their child the opportunity to grow and choose. Remember that you are going to be experienceing so much emotion in letting them go, try not to allow this to effect in the decision. To students I would advise them to remember that all of our choices impact our lives for the long run. So often, I have seen college students think of the now, neglecting the impact that a single choice may have on the rest of their life. Live life for who you were created to be, not who we all so often try to be. College is so much more than an academic experience, it is a time of growth the molds us into the person we are going to become. You look back and years later recognize the effect of a single choice in your life. I would suggest prayer and seeking wisdom from others in your life in choosing a college and living out it's experience.
Anthony
When selecting a college, it is important to find one that is strong in your field, but one that also is diverse in its students and academic programs. Academics should be a strong focus, but book knowledge can only get you so far in the real world. The real world is about getting along with people, pursuing a dream, and fulfilling your own purpose in life. Diversity on campus not only teaches students about other cultures. It helps them to learn more about themselves. The most important part of the college experience is getting to know your fellow students. Study hard, but get involved in activities like clubs and sports. Sometimes it is hard to find time to fit them into your schedule, but one of the happiest people I know is an electrical engineer who plays every intramural sport he can and is on the school?s rugby team. If the art department is showcasing new work, check it out. If the foreign language department is showing a French film, ask if it has subtitles. College is a great time to make lifelong friendships, discover new interests, and broaden your knowledge.
Samantha
When searching for a college the most important step is to visit the campus of the college you are interested in. Arrange a tour to learn about the history of the school and the way things work, but most of all take time to talk with students around the campus. Ask them questions where the answer could perhaps sway your opinion of the school. When you get there, making the most of your college experience is really up to you. From personal experience I would say to take your time. There is no hurry to get through school and if you go at your own pace you will do better. Make as many friends as you can with the students and professors, speak with them outside of class and form lots of study groups. A good way to experience new things is to join a club or a team, but if those are not right for you, go to a different school event every month. Remember that college isn't going to guarantee your foot into a great job, so find an internship program and pick a major that you love, never do it for the money.
Colin
I believe that when you are choosing a place to go to college, go somewhere new. It is an excellent life expierience to leave the place that you grew up and go somewhere else completely. Pick a place that would be reasonably cheap to attend. You don't want to stretch yourself out to thin financially. The best way to start the college experience is to live in a dormitory on-campus. You meet many new and wonderfull people that you will remain friends with forever. It also forces you to become involved with your school. You really start to feel a strong sense of pride about your new school. Go out and get to know your professors. It will help you out untold amounts later on. Focus hard your first two semesters. Develop a string work ethic early on. Nothing feels better that having great success in your first year of college. Go into college with an open mind adn really find out who you are as a person. Learn from mistakes and experience new things. Lastly remember, have a good time all the time.
Dominique
To find a college that best fits their economic situation, interest and a college where you can grow as a person in your career before moving on to bigger things. It's always good to pick a college based on opportunity and not so much the name becuase people can transfer to whereever they would like in the future. It's about getting that degree the best one can!
Nicole
Definitely visit your college campus. It isn't until you actually step onto your future campus that you can really get a feel for what you are getting yourself into. Also, get involved. It is one thing I wish I had done. It makes the time go by so much faster and then your really enjoy your college experience instead of getting overwhelmed with work. While studying is important, everybody needs a break. Take time to be young and enjoy your campus. There are so many opportunities to network and meet people who share your interests and can help you with classes and hard decisions you might need to make in the future.
Kali
College. It's a word that brings about many different feelings; both positive and negative. For some it is a pathway to success, a major stepping stone in life, and four years of fun. But for others it is yet another half-decade of learning and papers and deadlines. College should be a positive experience, and with the right tools, it can be.
In finding the right college there are many different factors that should be taken into account before deciding on one. You need to decide whether you would feel more comfortable at a big or a small college, since the students themselves are a big part of the college experience. The location is also key. You want to attend a college that fits your personality and preferences. After choosing theright school for you, you need to take advantage of everything that your school has to offer. Go to every sporting event, participate in on-campus activities, hang out in your library every once-in-a-while, and keep a positive attitude. With the right mindset, you'll be able to make life-long friends and keep your stress level down to a minimum. Now go enjoy your school!
Bridgette
My advice to parents and students in the process of selecting a college is to foucs on both academics and social experiences each college has to offer. College is a time to not only grow academically but also and equally as important to experiences life and find out what you really want. There is more to choosing a career than just how much money you will make. It is important to like what you will be doing and that is more important than how much money you make.
Look for a college that will challange you in more ways than just your papers and tests and remember to have fun. College is a great time in your life, use it wisely. When you do get out there in the real world there are no summer vacations or winter breaks just the 9 to 5 daily grind. Make sure your daily grind is something you can look forward to. This is YOUR life , you have choices and with those choices come responsiblilty.
Lauren
Go to a college out of town, that way you get a fresh start. Don't be too scared to try a wide variety of new things to see what fits you best. It is ok to do different things and grow apart from your high school friends. Just make sure you are making your decisions based on what makes you happy and what you want to do, not what you think you need to do to fit in.
Stacy
There are a few things to look for in a college; big or small classes, the sort of people that attend the university, the environment, activities to do around campus, etc. When picking a university, you need to know what you (or your child) is looking for. For example, I knew that I did not want to be lost in the vast amounts of students so I found a college that has smaller classes, so I can learn and ask questions. It is also important to know what other activities there are to do; for example, what will you (or your child) do on the weekends? What do you want them doing? Here I knew that I would be able to go hiking, biking, walking, or kayaking to keep me busy. And last, but not least, ask the attending students how they enjoy the university, if many say they do not like it you might want to look somewhere else, but if they do enjoy it they may have some teacher preferances to share with you that will make your college experience more enjoyable.