University of Scranton Top Questions

My decision of which college to attend was extremely difficult. I didn't get into the school that I wanted to and I was feeling despondent about the whole college experience in general. I was not looking forward at all to going to Scranton. The second I stepped onto campus on move in day, I felt such a sense of belonging that I knew I had made the right decision. My advice is to not stress. You are meant to go where you go. While it may not seem perfect at the time, I am a strong believer in fate. Let fate work for you. If you have put in the time and effort needed, you will be happy and succeed where ever you end up!

To students: Fill your parents in on what you're looking for in the right school, they only want to help. This affects their lives, too. Try looking at schools that aren't too close to home. Living on campus will help you to grow up and become independent. Be careful in your Freshman year; mistakes can and will be made. You will make it through the mistakes, so take the time to live too! While having fun, remember your work comes first. Your friends don't make your GPA for you. Call your parents; they will always love you. To the parents: Take the time to consider your child's interests. You may not want to see them go, but it'll be the best for them in the long run. Do not let cost get in the way of your child's 'dream school'. Financial aid does help. If not, it'll be hard to pay for, but this is your child's education; what better investment? Don't call your child too much; let them live! Trust them. If you raised them right, they'll make the right choices. If not, they'll learn. They love you.

The most important part of searching for the perfect school is on-campus visits. From my own experience, the minute I walked onto campus, I knew the University of Scranton was the college I wanted to attend. In case you do not have that "A HA" moment, there are several steps you can take to ensure you are picking the right college. First, talk to students and ask them the real questions: what are the dorms like? how are the classes? are the students friendly? Students who are not under the pressure of a group tour will be more willing to give you the most honest answers. Second, talk to professors and academic counselors to make sure they have the program that best suits your needs. If the professors are helpful before you attend the school, it's a good indication they will continue to interact this way once you are admitted. Third, discuss your financial aid options. College is expensive and a great experience does not have to cost top dollar. Finally, trust your gut! You did the research, you asked the questions, now it's time to start listening to your heart and you're on your way!

have fun choose a school that fits you

What I would say to parents is that this is something you really need to stress to your child is more an individual choice than your choice. Though it is important to keep monetary limitations in mind, especially with today's economic crisis; finding the right college for your child should be more focused on the academic and social needs of your child. There are always grants, loads, scholarships, ect to help the financial situation. For children, I would say that you should sit down first and decide what you want from your college academically. What topic areas interest you? You do not have to necessarily pick a topic, but keep some in mind so that you can pick schools with strong programs in these areas. I would also say that you should pick a school that fits your academic and social needs. Do you have enough self motivation to go to a party school and still succeed? Can you live far from home? Would you want to live far away from home? Lastly I would take into account the type of environment the school is, city, large school, small school, or rural area.

Scranton wasn't my first choice; in fact, I only applied to appease my parents. I had never looked at the school, and they made me come up after I was accepted. It was a rainy cold Saturday morning in April, and halfway through my tour, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. You or your son/daughter will feel it when they're on campus, so make sure you take a tour. I know it's a lot of driving, but it's worth it. I wouldn't change it for anything; I met my very best friends here. And even if they're not a D1 Athletic School (we're D3), you can join clubs. I met these best friends on the Crew Team, which is a club sport. Don't overlook anything. Walk around campus, talk to a student; they'll most likely be more than willing to talk about their experiences and give their advice. Most of all, choose the school that's right for you, not anyone else; your friends, parents, significant others. YOU. Good luck and maybe I'll see you on the commons! :)

Let the soon to be college student decide upon where he/she would like to attend. As much as the parent's imput is influential and shaping the decision of where to attend, it should not be the decideing factor. Let that rest upon the student.

Talk to as many students as you can to get an idea of the school. Their opinions will be completely honest and unbiased because of course they have nothing to gain from talking you into coming to their school. Also, try to get a good idea of what you want your major to be. If you do, you can find what school can best compensate you by talking to students and faculty in those particular fields.

Ivy League schools are not the only school options. There are other prestigious schools out there and these might even be a better fit. The key is finding a school that will emphasize what you have to offer. Search for schools that offer internships and other opportunities to see what the working fields are really like. For instance, my school requires that students in the Nursing major perform Service Learning a set number of hours. Currently, I am volunteering at a Nursing Home and this practice will later help me in the hospital setting. I will gain experience on how to communicate with older people. Once you search for a college by looking up information online and attending Open House, the student should develop an overall feeling for the environment and realize which school would allow them to prosper. It is also not necessary to complete over ten different applications to schools because a person can not possibly have the time to personally visit each school to get the vibe for it. The schools that made a positive impression should be given full attention. Last but definitely not least, once being accepted into college work hard and enjoy it fully.

Let your kids choose the school that's right for them, regardless of the price. That should be the last resort. And don't holler at them for experimenting -- be it with alcohol or a major.