University of Scranton Top Questions

take a school that is worth the money...overpaying is not worth it

Try to choose a major as soon as possible to help drive you towards your ultimate goal. Always work hard, and never forget to have fun while doing so.

Go to the school and spend the night. See how the people interact with eachother as well as looking how the student community intereacts with the location.

When you are visiting or touring a college, you know it is the right college for you at the moment you step onto campus. You will see a landmark, a building, or perhaps meet a person, any of which irrationally convinces you to make 'this place' your home for the next four, or more, years. The rational decisions to attend 'this college' may come later when you speak with an inspiring and motivational professor or staff member in your field of interest, or when you realize that 'this college' will support you as a pre-professional as well as a human being. There is no 'one way' to make the most of your college experience, because you will look back and realize you have learned so much from the mistakes you have made. Try to get involved in a diversity of campus activites and events, ones that broaden your horizens, make you happy, yet do not take away from your time to study. The true test of a superior education comes after graduation, when you will realize that you would have done everything differently-- meaning that you have grown and matured exponentially at 'this college.'

The advice I would give both paretns and students in making the most of thier college expierence is to find a college that best suits your child. You will be there for four years, so when you are visiting schools and you feel it is the right fit for you then that is the right school for you. There is a school for everyone! When you go on college tours ask as many question you want answered becaus ethat also helps a lot. When you choose the school of your dreams make the best of it, because it is what you make of it not what other people say or what you hear.

Apply to the schools that interest you most. After you have been accepted, make sure you visit each and every school and choose the one that not only offers you the best education but makes you feel the most at home. Without a feeling of home, which in turn equals a feeling of safety and security, you will not be able to succeed or do well academically.

Choosing your college is an important decision, but one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is not to take it too seriously. Do your research, visit campuses, but don't drive yourself crazy, and especially don't force yourself into a decision because you think you need to pick a school early. Have fun making your choices, because whatever you pick will impact your life greatly. For me, I never even considered going to my college until I first came to visit the campus. I could immediately picture myself there, making mine an easy choice. However, I have no less than four good friends who have changed schools at least once, one who even returned to her original school. So weigh all your options, look for a school that will challenge you, that has a good location and appealing activities for you. But most of all look for a school where you can be happy. College can be the hardest, but most exciting and freeing time of your life. Open yourself up to new experiences and to new people, because in the end, college is really what you make of it.

Visit the campus, stay over night if possible. You will know the right school when you are there. As far as making the best of your college experience, do not be an island. Get involved with clubs, teams, and activites.

Make the most of it the first time around. Going to college is an incredibly wonderful experience that will pay you back 10 fold once it's over. Selecting the right university, the right major, and the right activities in college can and in most cases, will have an impact on the rest of your life, and so it's important to be methodical with your decision. When selecting a school, don't always go to the most well-known school or the most prestigious one. Rather, go to the school that you will not only gain the most from educationally, but also where you will be able to maintain the right level of balance while studying for four+ years. Selecting your major is also tough, and so I would recommend taking classes in many fields that interest you and consulting with your professors and mentors--do not major in something because "it sounds cool!" Finally, college isn't all work all the time--join a few clubs, play some sports, and have fun meeting and interacting with your soon-to-be best friends for life. Careful preparation and prudent decision making will make you have a great four years!

H