Wagner College Top Questions

Think about the environment you grew up in, if it was poor like mine was realize you can make your quality of life better thorough education. College is what you make of it no matter where you choose to go, stay ambitious and master your gifts.

One of the first things I think parents and/ or students should know is that even if a college or university says that they are the best college and that you or you child should go there, does not mean that it really is the best fit. Find a college or university that, first offers the types of things you are interested in studying. Then take a good look at the campus itself, it's location, the quality of the campus, is it clean, is it well maintained, can you see yourself walking around that campus for four years. Also, talk to students who are already attending the school and get their opinions. Go to the school's "Campus Visit Days" and go on a tour, talk to the Admissions Counselors as well as professors from specific departments. Once you pick the school and get accepted, go with an open mind, be ready to learn about all aspects of life learning and growing goes way beyond the classroom. Ask questions, talk to people., be outgoing when meeting new people, get involved in activities around campus, and most importantly, just be yourself. College is the time for exploration and new discoveries.

Don't be afraid . I feel that the undergraduate experience is the chance to have an adventure and learn about who you are . I found myself in New York despite the fact that I am from a small town in Virginia. It opened my eyes to what this world has to offer. This is the best time to take a chance. If you have the opportunity to study abroad , then see another part of the world. I was very lucky at Wagner because of the Expanding Your Horizons program. I was able to take a class on HIV/AIDS and Politics In Kenya, and stay in Kenya. We recieved a grant and started a soup kitchen in the highly infected province of Gataka. Being able to help those wonderful families was the best thing that ever happened to me. I took a chance when I went so far away from home and then I got the opportunity to travel even farther away to a differnt country and help others. My advice is to take chances, learn from your mistakes and always appreciate your blessings. Good Luck!

GO VISIT THE CAMPUS!!! I cannot stress that enough. I made a horrible mistake and picked my colleges without visiting them. I mainly picked Wagner College because it was situated in New York City instead of my boring old home state of Texas. Plus the student needs to figure out his/her social needs. Some people like to explore and go to a big college, whiler others like the sanctity and security of a smaller school. Basing a school off of its Professors and workload is a waste of time, no matter what there will always be horrible teachers and classes. Professors come dime a dozen, and nothing matters as long as the student does his/her share of the work effectively and precisely.

THE KEY TO FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE IS MAKING SURE IT IS AFFORDABLE, LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL (AREA ITS IN), THE SCHOOLS ACADEMIC RECORD, ACTIVITES ON CAMPUS TO BE INVOLVED IN, CLASS SIZE (IMPORTANT FOR YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE), MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INTENDED MAJOR IS OFFERED, VERY VERY IMPORTANT SPEAK WITH STUDENTS AND ALUMNI FROM THE SCHOOL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

I would first ask yourself what size college you can see yourself being comfortable attending. After researching and limiting options, limit more by thinking about what career you have in mind and how accessible field experience is on or around the college. Also, it may not seem important but if someone truly hates cold weather, a college up north might not be the smartest choice. After narrowing options, t's essential to visit. As an athlete, I stayed over night at many colleges and it really helped me see what campus life was truly like. It's hard to explain but once you on campus and get a feeling that is where you are meant to be you "just know." Once you're in college, it's important to break your own boundaries and get out to meet people and make friends. Get involved! Go to games, join clubs, go to study group sessions even if you don't need the extra help. College is an eye opener and it's important to drop any bias' that were had in high school. It's all about accepting other people, and even more about first accepting yourself.

I would say in choosing the best college to make sure they have your major and also majors you would also consider because it is very common to want to change your major. To make the most of college is to just have fun. School work is very important but it is also important to have a social life so definitely balance the two.

The biggest thing while searching for colleges that I can pass down is to look into your financial aid package and see if you will be able to get the private loans you need to stay at your institution. Financial aid is the biggest concern for most students, and it would be a shame for a student to have to leave a school they love because of financial reasons.

In the search for the right college, keep several things in mind. The location of the college, class size and internship opportunities are important things to consider. Also keep in mind if you want to attend a college with a big sports program and a lot of school spirit, since that makes the college experience much different. Get involved in as many things as possible. You can always leave activities that you do not enjoy, but make sure to give everything a try!

I think the most important decision you have to make about finding a college is whether or not you want to go far away or stay home. I had chosen to go away and applied to schools that were hours away from my home. However, when it came time to decide where I was going, I decided to stay within 30 minutes of my house. I live on campus but I am still grateful that I choose to stay close to home. It was difficult adjusting to the lifestyle, which made me appreciate because within close proximity to my family and friends, who could help during such a rough time.