Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

When students leave for college, they enter a world that will mold them into the kind of adults they will be when they walk across the graduation stage. Choosing the right college is pivotal to one's future, yet it seems like such a large decision to make at merely eighteen years of age. The rule of thumb to choosing a college is simple: choose a school with a community that will engage you personally, socially, and academically. When visiting campuses, make certain to notice how the people and school make you feel; can you see yourself walking through those doors, can you see yourself as close friends with the people you meet? Look into the curricula for the majors you are applying to, and ask yourself if the classes sound intriguing enough to keep you excited throughout undergraduate school. Search for extracurricular activities before you begin school, because your individual growth comes from these activities as much as from academia. The people you meet in college will become a family away from home, and you have to be certain that the community at a school suits your lifestyle, to best foster that family relationship.

College is a place to enhance what you know about yourself, not a place to find yourself. If you wish to know what you SHOULD do go backpacking through Europe, hike the Appalachian Trail, interview with people who do what you think you would like to do. Do your research and figure out who you want to be before you go to college and they begin to make the decision for you. College is an expensive privalege, not a free gift. Treat it as such.

definately visit the campuses to see if you like city, suburban, or rural areas better. check out the surounding areas as well because remember you will be living here if not commuting. also make sure you have a little knowledge on the programs offered and the majors. you don't want to wnd up at a school that doesn't have what you want. my school, VCU, is one of the biggest schools in VA and has one of the best art schools in the nation. the art is partially why i am here, but also for the business.

Knowing what career you want to do fresh out of High School does not happen for many people in this day and age. Think of what you want, or what you can see yourself doing, and find a college that can offer an education towards that. If you have thought it over and still cannot decide, find a college that has the most available options, you never know what you may end up doing. But, most of all, remember that you do not have to stay in one career forever, so nothing is impossible.

don't go somewhere because of religious affiliation, party reputation, previous family attendence, etc. go somewhere because it's where you want to be to get the education you want to get.

Take the trip. See the school. Feel the energy. Looking at pictures and reading handouts and pamphlets will get you so far; calculating your GPA and SAT's and comparing them on school websites to the averages will get you farther, but the final, most important step in making your decision will be made when you're walking through the halls or streets across the campus. Something in you will ring true and no website or brochure will ever be able to replace the true essence of the school the way that being there does. Take the tour.

Please make sure that you take the time to really check out the prospective schools for yourself, because what is right for someone else might not be right for you!

Make sure you're not forcing your child into college. If that seems to be the case, let it be a small school maybe a community college. You don't want your child to be miserable or to waste the money.

Make sure you visit and spend time on the campus so that you can get a feel for where you might be spending a lot of time over the next 4 years

If you know your direction, choose the college that can help you follow that course best. If you're still undecided, choose the college that has the resources to help you decide your direction. To make the most of your experience, DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE FRIENDS!! College can be a lonely place and friends can help you maximize this experience.