Christine
When searching for the perfect college, I recommend taking a tour of the school first and seeing if you like the campus. Next, you should figure out where you will want to live because it makes a big difference whether you live in dorms, off campus housing, or go greek. No matter where you live, you can always make the best of things if you are open minded and outgoing. I recommend focusing 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on school and then in your free time have fun because the main reason you are at school is to study. Most universities have programs and activities that help freshman adjust to the new college setting. Good luck with finding the right school!
Danaan
make a list of the things you want in your school: how big you are comfortable with, what sorts of activities you want to participate in, atmospere, quality of education (or how easy you want your classes to be), what you can afford, how far from home do you want to be, what field(s) you are considering going into, level of schooling you are looking for (associate's degree, bachelors, masters, doctorate), and any other relevant factors. rank these factors in importance, and look for the school that fits all of your most important needs. talk to counselors and students, and try to get a tour of the school from someone who knows it well, and (if you can) with similar interests (i've heard that sometimes counselors can hook you up with a grad student for this).
for making the most of your college experience: try everything. provided that it doesn't seem like a downright bad idea (because if it seems like one, it probably is). don't be shy, and put yourself out there.
Logan
Make sure you choose a place that will be enjoyed for its atmosphere, and not somewhere based solely off of academics. Try and pick a place where you think you'll fit in, so you'll have good company.
Alicia
When looking at colleges, keep in mind how comfortable you are in small classes (liberal arts college) or large classes (state universities) and how close or far you'd like to be from home, the climate etc...location is important! If you have an idea of what type of field you'd like to major in, look for a school known for that program. Most importantly, don't underestimate yourself! If you think the school of your dreams is slightly out or your reach, apply anyways! Don't listen to counselors who tell you to only apply to safety schools! Grades arent's the only contributing factors to whether or not you obtain admission. Your essay or extracurriculars could be what gets where you'd like to be. Once you're at school take advantage of all your campus has to offer. Most schools have excellent academic sources when you need help and there's usually a vast variety of clubs, sports, etc to join. Meeting people is a sure way to enjoy college.. you'll make friends for life, have access to a study partners, and best of all, they'll understand you! They are your classmates after all!
Emma
the schools you pick should fit you not only academically but socialy as well. make sure the campus is not going to drive you crazy: not enough trees, too many trees, too much sun, not enough sun, too modern, too old. When you get to college do your best to put your right foot forward and make new friends and have new experiances. don't rely soley on old friends and old ways of being.
Joy
I would say think carefully about what you're good at and what you're interested in. To try and force yourself into a computer science or pre-med because it will make you a lot of money won't motivate you when you really need it. Rather, it's more important that you involve youself in what you really want to do -- otherwise, you're just wasting your time and your money. If you really love a particular discipline or way of doing things you'll learn what you need to in order to be successful at it.
Jennifer
When you are trying to decide what college is best for you, make sure you look for yourself and no one else. Find the college that best suits the person you are and the person you want to become, regardless of how prestigious it is. This is probably the most important thing you will want to do because while in college you truly grow into the person you will become for the rest of your life.
While in college, try to keep an open mind about the people around you because you might end up meeting the best friends of your life. The college experience doesn't come to you, you have to go to it, as in, if you want to make the most of your experience, you must put yourself out there and find ways to become a part of the experience.
Marson
Honestly, know what you want to do before you decide apon a college because nothing is worst than going for a few years and then realizing that's not what you want to do anymore. Also make the best of it, it's an experience that some might not be able to have.
Cynthia
When you pick a college, it's nice to pick one that is close to home. No matter what, you will be far away because you will be so involved and busy with school anyway, you will not feel like you are still stuck at home unless you live at home.
Winona
I think that students should always look into the program requirements for their major when choosing a school, because knowing that you are following a program of study that fits with what you want to learn is very important. Also, taking campus tours and talking to students of prospective colleges is a good way to get a feel for whether a university is right for you. Ultimately, most people will have a good college experience wherever they are as long as they are willing to work hard!