University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

Visit schools, talk to students (both tour guides and random students you meet) and trust your gut!

I would first apply to all of the colleges you want to. Some safeties, some definites, and two tough ones. Then once accepted is when you should go visit all of the colleges that accepted you. There's no reason to go to colleges before hand if they don't end up accepting you. Turns into a waste of a trip and a hoodie that'll never be worn again. Also, don't just base off of where your friends are planning on going. If you know what you want to go in, then do that. Don't let anyone peer pressure you into change the future that you want for yourself. Once you have your future set then your friends will see you were right all along. Finally, you don't have to worry about your major just yet. People change all the time, just find somewhere that you're going to be comfortable and able to enjoy the next 4 years of your life!

Don't worry about anything else, just make sure the classes and the location are things that you will enjoy for 4 years. If you don't like where you are, you won't enjoy your college experience, and wont end up learning anything.

Stay calm.

It is great going to a college that is well known academically, or for other non-academic reasons, however it is important to really look at what school can open the most doors for you. The school you will be able to most thrive in and mature into a responsible and well-rounded citizen is the school that will be the best for any person. Going to a party school will be great socially, however will it help you out in the future as a good academic school? On the other hand, are you able to handle the academic pressure and workload of a renowned academic school? To me, academics is one of the most aspects of a school that everyone should look at. The social aspect you can make at your school campus. There are always clubs and organizations you can join, and if there isn't one that you are specifically looking for, you can always start one. The key to having a successful college carreer is making the most of it. It really is about finding a place where you will be able to flourish as a person. Find a fun, academically enhancing, and inspiring place.

Vibe. That's the one word you need to consider when you visit schools. Check out the interaction between the students you see. Are they laughing and smiling? Having lunch together? Check out the main walk. Are they out there promoting their clubs and groups, and fooling around here and there in the meantime? Talk to students. Find the students are that are most similar to you and ask them how their experience is going. Was it easy for them to find a core group of friends? What's their social life like? What's their workload like? Do they love their classes? I was recruited to play a varsity sport at Penn. I spent a day getting to know the girls on the team and after talking with them, I new instantly this was the school for me. I was looking for friendly people that had the same ideals and interests as I did, and I found them. Get as much information as you can abou the vibe of the school, and then trust your gut to make the ultimate decision.

Finding the right college is a personal choice that each student, with the support of their families, must make for themselves. Touring campuses and talking to students is the best way to get a "feel" for the campus. To make the most of the college experience, make sure to balance academics with social activities. Study hard, since the purpose of college is to continue one's education, but make sure to reserve time for friends and family. College is a time to develop personally as well as academically. So relax and enjoy yourself, you only get to be an undergraduate once!

I think it is most important to take what interests you into account and not base a school on what it looks like. Make sure to look around you and see if they offer art, music, drama etc for everyone. Also, be prepared to ask a lot of questions and take the answers to heart. You never know a school from the tour. Take the time to interact with the students and see what they do on the weekends. Also, see what the community is like around the school. One of the best things about my college was the ability to interact with the city of Philadelphia.

In order to find the right college and to make the most of you college experience, it is important to do two things. First, make sure that you visit as many schools as possible. When I say visit, I don't only mean travel to the school, but if this is not possible, check them out online. Most schools have very comprehensive virtual tours at this point. Do not be afraid to keep looking, even if one seems to be a great fit. Second, make sure to bite off more than wha you think you can chew. Try new things, make new friends, and never settle into a groove. There are so many things to do and learn at school, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

I would encourage the prospective student to spend more than just the afternoon at a standard college visit. Choosing which college to attend is quite an enduring process and it should be taken very seriously. Spend the night in the town where the college is located. Ask the Admission's Office if you can spend the night, or the weekend, in one of the college dorms with a student volunteer so that you can get a "preview" of what to expect. Talk to the students, and get in touch with freshmen who are completing their first year there. Ask them what they like, and don't like, about the school. In a more casual setting, you'll get the truth. It takes a lot more than the tour around campus to find the "right" college. It can look beautiful, but ultimately it comes down to the people: the students, the professors, even the staff in the dining halls, school store, and library who have the personality to smile and ask how your day is going. Even those little things make a huge difference. Spend time immersing yourself in the school's culture and you'll make the right decision.