University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

Finding the right college is like deciding what to eat at a really nice French restaurant. It all sounds good, even though you haven't a clue as to what any of it means. But it's not always that good (blood sausage?). That said, just because an institution might be beautiful and Ivy League, it doesn't mean that you will fit in with their student body nor does it mean you will necessarily be in the best program for your interests. All the college tours you go on will market themselves with just a hint of dishonesty, stretching the facts and unfortunately inventing them on occasion - even the Ivy League universities. The best thing to do is walk around campus and pull aside a random student and ask what he or she thinks of the school. Do some honest research on faculty and academic or extra-curricular programs. At the end of the day though, you will not graduate from an institution as the same person you were when you entered. So to some degree, choosing is more like guessing. Afterwards, you just hope for the best...and it usually works out!

Look for schools where you can carve out a niche for yourself -- don't expect the whole school to be perfectly suited for you. That's neither realistic nor desirable, and certainly doesn't relect the real world. Being able to make your own home, whether through joining a theater group, a club sports team, or an activist group, is essential for enjoying college. As long the school has strong and varied extracurricular programs, you'll be able to have a blast in your spare time (hopefully doing something you find worthwhile, too!), as well as throwing yourself into academics and getting the most out of your education without becoming overwhelmed, bored, or frustrated. Be active about finding your place once you're at a school; that may mean casting your net too wide at first, but there's no pain pulling it back in once you've got a great catch!

Don't let your parents make all the decisions.

I think having a keen sense of what you want to do in college and not neccessarily what you want to do after the college is the most important thing. For the most part, if you do well at school and network well, regardless of what school you attend, you will be able to get any job or get into any graduate school that you want so it is important to pick a school that you will be able to do well, create a productive network, have a good time and grow as an individual. With this being said, it still behooves you to go into college with an open mind because you may find something that you would have never thought you would have liked. Also, remember that college is an investment and to make sure that whatever college you attend will give you the best return on your investment. Good luck and have fun.

My advice may be startling to some, but it is simple and heartfelt. Students: Listen to your parents. They know you best and they will always be your best defenders and champions. Even if they cannot see you or be with you physically, but they will be the best source of help and advice. Tell them about your experiences, both the good and the bad. Don't be afraid to tell them if you are having a tough time, your parents want the best for you too and will most likely give you good suggestions. Parents: Listen to your kids. You have known them for longer than anyone else, you know their quirks, their moods, their ways to disguise problems. But don't interrogate about social life or grades - let them to talk to you Engage in their life, but don't make them feel like their parents are going to college too. Let them have a taste of independence, but be aware of what they are doing (if you can do that without letting on it's even better). Mostly, develop a sense of trust - so that students can feel independent but know they have their parents behind them.

Seriously, forget your pride and the brand name... if you go to any COMPETITIVE college, then you will get great-to-excellent job placement... and if you're at a less competitive large state school and you're at the top, you'll still get great job placement. Worry about whether you fit in and if you like the culture of the uni. HS kids get too focused on if they got into a better ranked university and in the end it's really all crap.

Trust your child to make the right decision about what school to attend. S/he should be empowered to process informational pamphlets and develop pro/con lists independently, although parents can help by helping the student to debrief if they so request. Also recognize that a gap year may be appropriate for your child. Many colleges recognize that nontraditional paths just work out better for some people in the long run. When your child finally heads off, don't hover. "Helicopter parents" do their kids a disservice in the long run by causing professors/advisors to question the competence of the child, and also by denying the student the opportunity to find tools to help themselves when mom and dad aren't available to step in (usually at an embarassingly late stage in life). Buy a phone card, or send them off with some self addressed stamped envelopes. Don't call too often. Take a step back and let them enjoy their independence... but don't forget to send a care package or two with some good treats in the first semester. Even the most stalwart kid will get a little homesick, and nothing says I Love You more effectively.

It is very important that the college decision is the student's, and that he/ she is not choosing a school to impress others, make his parents happy, etc. Finding the right college or university is a very difficult process, for which there is no formula. But one will know when it feeels right.

In today's world, where the college experience is pumped up far beyond any reasonable expectation of reality, it is impossible to choose the college that will best fit the aspiring undergrad. Sometimes, we forget it isn't about the look of the buildings, the social scene of the city, or the prestige in a name; more than anything else, college is really about growing up and finding a place for yourself in the adult world. This world that all students must enter after four years of preparation, is a harder and colder one than their protected campuses and fails to come with counselors or rent-controlled dorms. When choosing a school, one has to seriously think if it will prepare him for the trials ahead in his future. Yet, also important is somewhere that social life, activities, and academics can be balanced since saving time for passions and pleasantries will help maintain sanity and make meaningful connections as one copes with the departure of teenage freedom. When four years pass, one should see that he has made great strides and changes in his life; and he should be able to say that he had fun in doing so.

In applying for colleges, narrow the pool of prospective schools down to no more than 8 before starting the applications. Oftentimes students apply to schools they do not even want to attend for fear of rejection elsewhere. Fewer applications to fill out means that each one will receive proportionally more effort, and the chance of getting in to these more selective colleges will increase. To find the right college, visit it as much as possible. Take a tour. Sit in on a class. Talk in depth to current students. This will give you the inside information that no statistics, ranking, website, or book can give. As for the college experience, get involved with clubs. If you have nothing that you are really interested in or good at, try something new. Join a swing dance group or and intramural sports team. This is a great way to broaden your horizons, while making many instant and a life-long friendships. But in the end, make sure that you do what is important to you in college. Major in something that fascinates you. Study abroad, intern at a place that can get you exactly the type of job you want.