University of Portland Top Questions

Make sure to research all schools you are interested in, and maybe some that you aren't too sure about. Also, don't become interested and apply to a school just because friends are--make sure it's the right fit. And even if you end up at your "dream school" and end up hating it, don't be afraid or worried to transfer. It's not worth it to try and stick it out for four years if you are miserable. It's better to make sure you are happy and are where you want and need to be. Selecting the right college is important for many reasons: you'll make friendships that last a lifetime, you're there for four years, and mostly, it's because you want to be there. Get involved in as many things as you can, it's a great way to meet new people and to discover what is available to you. Try as many new things as you can, this is the one time in life where you can explore and travel without the full responsibilities of a job and bills. Whatever you chose, make sure it's right for you.

Visit as many schools as possible, and stay overnight with a student. Don't judge the school totally on that visit though, and make sure you know more about it than what someone tells you, so you can decide for yourself.

Make sure to visit the college campuses you are considering. While you're there, try to talk to students that currently attend the school. This is a great way to get an accurate idea of what attending that specific college is really like. Try to talk to a variety of students at the school so you can get a vast array of opinions. During the visit, attempt to visualize yourself actually attending the school, and while doing this, ask yourself, do I see myself being happy here? Be sure to be honest with yourself. Another great way to learn about what the school is really like is to sit in on a class. Maybe colleges encourage this and the Admissions Office at the school can usually help set up this opportunity for you. Once you start attending a college, I think the best way to make the most of your college experience is to be open-minded, try new things, have a good time, but at the same time, remember why you are there and do all that you can to get the most out of the academic experience.

Finding the right college is definitely about your own personality; if you want to go to class and get your work done unbothered, a bigger school may be right. If you are more into quiet weekends and making a few very close friends, a small school may be best. Definitely visit a campus, and spend the night! It is the only way to truly experience what campus is like, and you can get a glimpse of the types of people that go there, the quality of the food (which is extremely important when you eat there every day, for all meals), and the quality of the school's social scene. You can ask the important questions, such as the best hangout spots near campus, the quality of classes, the difficulty of classes, and the weekend and nightlife scene.

Know what kind of setting you want, if you want to have your teachers know you by name--then a smaller school would be best, if you want a greek system and to party--go to a state school.

It's important to consider what your goals are for your college experience, whether you want to focus on becoming a rounded individual, get excellent grades, explore new cities, accelerate your future careeer, or if you want to learn languages and travel abroad. It's all out there and there is no wrong answer, but it's important to not get too caught up in the process of applying and filling out paperwork, especially when there is an big emphasis among students about name-brand schools. What's right for one student may not be the right college for your best friend, so work with your family to make a balanced and realistic decision. Promise yourself to not loose sight of your goals, and remember that college should be one of the greatest experiences of your life!

Recognize that when you select a school, you are signing up to be a member not just of the campus community, but also of the greater community to which your school belongs. Understanding this will help you, I feel, to be more of an individual and less just a student at whatever college. Should you choose a school based on the quality of academics? Yes. Should you choose a school based on activities and extracurriculars you might want to be involved in? Absolutely. But, you should also choose a school based on how much you anticipate you'll like LIVING there. Because, ieven if you do well academically, if you're unhappy with your surroundings, you will ultimately be unable to succeed.

As trivial as your college choice may seem at first glance in the grand scheme of life, it does profoundly effect your future in ways that you would never imagine initially. I believe that when deciding on a college you should honestly ask three things of yourself. First, how far do you want to be from home? Though this may sound unimportant I have found by experience that it is really key to your college success. Second,will the school provide the best degree in your field of interest that is within the geographic area you have decided on? And finally, you should visit the campuses for yourself and ask yourself, do I like this school as a community, its students as friends and classmates, and its professors as mentors? If you can answer these questions I believe that you will be well on your way to finding a college that you will enjoy and get the most out of during your short time as a college student. No matter where you decide to go, and no matter how many times you may wonder why you ever started college, I can guarantee you that you will never regret it.

Do not choose a college based on where your friends go, because your social network broadens so much in college that you will make many new friends while still being able to stay in contact with high school friends.

Find the right fit for you.