Wake Forest University Top Questions

While ranking and prestige are factors are something to consider, parents and students should think of 'fit' before either. It is more important to consider where each individual student will thrive academically and socially.

Beginning with the summer prior to your junior year of high school, you will begin to receive an umlimited amount of advice as to your collegiate future. It will likely range in form from themes such as, "If you hate high school, then you will love college" and "College will be the best four years of your life" to "Follow the money: you should choose whichever school offers you the most financial aid." During my time in college, however, I have found that the reality you will eventually live with does not always agree with the misleading, albeit honest, advice that you once received. The decision as to the right college for YOU should ultimately be left up to YOU. Take your time and outline those characteristics that you find most attractive in an academic environment and potential home, because it will be both of things, and more. The decision you make is not only for your academic training, but for your social, emotional, and otherwise personal development, as well. Ultimately, remember that the decision is for YOU, so that you can decide how you will spend the best years of your life--whether they are during college or afterwards.

Visit colleges you're interested in. Make sure the college is a good match for you, whether academically, culturally, or geographically.

Look for a school that offers a program you wish to pursue, is the right size, and you feel will give you the best education possible. Location is also important, whether you want to be in a city or the middle of nowhere, but it is nice to have a school in a place where getting off campus is also fun and that offers a variety of activities.

I truly believe that finding the right college is all about how the student feels upon setting foot on campus. Take it all in and envision yourself there. Talk to the students and wander around campus after the tour. Get a feel for the school, and if you don't feel yourself there, be okay with that. Don't go to any school with expectations, and be in touch with how the school really makes you feel. Know that you're the one that has to be there for four years, so don't let parents or friends influence your decision. Then, once you're there, enjoy every moment. Get involved. Join clubs that are out of your comfort zone. Take charge. Meet someone new everyday. Get to know your professors. Learn to take everything in stride.

Pick the school that feels right to you. Do not necessarily pick a school for a particular major, pick one that you want to spend 4 years growing at.

Take the time to figure out exactly what you are looking for in terms of campus location and extracurricular activities available. I didn't do this and have been regretting it ever since.

VISIT THE SCHOOL!...Talk to the students, not just the people that work there. Spend a day there

The most important advice I can give is to make sure that the college and the student are a good match. The reputation of the college or the ranking of their sports teams is irrelevant. The campus life, and especially the activities available outside of the classroom, is what makes a student feel at home. If your student is not interested in joining fraternities or sororities, make sure that there are enough alternatives to make sure that he/she can find a place to fit in.

I would say that having a list of things that are important to you in a college definitely helps with finding the right college. Knowing what you like will help the process go smoothly and probably a little quicker. But it is also very important to remain open when visiting different schools. Know why you want a small school versus a large school, or why you want a city versus a small town surrounding your school. Also be aware of why you do not like certain characteristics of a school. Also do NOT pay attention to the stereotypes of schools. If you find a school that is a good fit in everyway, then go to that school. Do not listen to what other people have to say about it. It doesn't matter what other people think. What really matters is that you are truly happy and have found a place where you feel you can learn and grow in a comfortable setting. Really consider what you find important in a school setting, why those characteristics are or are not important, and try to ignore the stereotypes some schools have and focus on finding a place of happiness and growth.

Make a list of schools that your grades and SAT score falls into. Then decide where you want to go to school and look into the schools that are on your list and in that area. Take a trip to visit those schools and see what the school looks like and is all about. Your school will just click for you so don't freak out if you don't find something right away. Work hard when you get there and take care of your studies. Take advantage of everything the school offers. If the school paper has a list of things to do before graduating, save it and try to complete the list. Going to a women's volleyball game and theater performance can make a great evening actually.

It's important to do a variety of research when looking for the right college. A tour of the campus is helpful, but it is given by people that will only tell you good things--they are trying to sell their school. Ask friends and their families to see if they know anyone that goes/went to the school to find opinions of others. I also would recommend going to a school that's higher on your list over a school with cheaper tuition or one that offers more scholarship money. These are the best four years of your life, and you don't want to settle for second best if you can scrap together some extra money to go to your favorite school or take out a loan to make it happen. Get to know the people in your dorm if you live on campus freshman year. At many schools, you don't get the chance to live on campus all years, and it's a good way to get to know people. Get to know your professors as well--they'll often have office hours, and it will help you in the long-run to have these connections.

-ASK for a spot at the schools you are serious about - this sets you above a majority of the applicants and gives your applicaiton life -visit every university that you can as soon as you hit your Sophomore year -don;t let your HS teachers discourage you form taking trips to colleges- it is ok to miss class- but make up your work -always visit when school is in session- so you can get a feel for the people and aura of academia -take time to look for the places you would enjoy studying- or spending time with friends e.g. coffee shops or libraries -spend the night on campus with a current student! -the school for you will be the one that feels like home- the "best fit" for YOU -when chosing the school for you (after receiving acceptance), visit your favorite again and then list pro's and con's - see yourself on campus with friends and in class- think of yourself in class and in the library- during exams etc. -RUSH for greek life regardless of any preconceived notion- you will make friends and meet so many more people than if you you chose not to rush

Find a college that you will be comfortable and confident attending. Your college will be your home for four years, and you want to be somewhere where you can be yourself, and make the most of the experience. While at school get involved in activities you love and enjoy and you will easily make friends whom you will get along with and are compatible with. If you have an open mind it is impossible not to have an amazing experience at school.

Go to the school that presents the most doors you are interested in. Just becuase there are opportunities doesn't mean its right for you.

There is no "right place" for any one student, and a good deal of the decision should depend on what feels most comfortable for each individual. Narrowing a list down based on size, location, afordability, or other general criteria can bring you to an excellent starting point, but visiting and interacting with students is vital to getting a real taste for what the school is like. On paper, some universities will seem like a perfect fit and others will not; these views may be drastically reshaped after a weekend on campus. One very critical point to keep in mind is, DO NOT select a school because you think you should go there based on its academic reputation compared to all the alternative colleges or universities you have been accepted to. There are hundreds of quality colleges/universities in the US. A diploma is just a piece of paper, it tells very little about what you learned in college other than your area of academic concentration. The amount of effort you put into your academic studies and what you choose to do during your collegiate years will carry you in the next phase in life, not the name on your diploma.

Visit as many different schools and possible and go with your gut. Also, make sure that if you're paying full price for the school that it is absolutely worth it.

Visit a lot of schools and make a realistic list of ones that you can get into

I would advise students and parents to visit each school before applying. There is no way to tell whether a school is right until you walk around its campus and see the people that go there. To make the most of one's college experience, I would advise a student to get involved and approach everything - both classes and social groups/events - with an open mind. It is easy to fall into the trap of simply extending you high school social life and behaviors into college, but there are infinate opportunities to get involved in new things and I would highly recommend taking as many opportunites as possible to do so.

I would tell a student to talk to current student at any given school they are looking at to find out if the interests/concerns of the student are the same as their own. It is important to be around people who care about similar things, otherwise you will not have a great experience. If you have conservative views, than it would be a good idea to seek out a conservative school, and visa versa. Once at school, I would say to get involved in as many things as possible. Introduce yourself to everyone. Learn as much as you can, because you will remember this experience for the rest of your life. It is also a time of finding yourself, and you cannot do so unless you look. Work hard and play hard. Try not to stress as much as you feel you should. Enjoy the experience, there will be nothing else like it.