Washington & Jefferson College Top Questions

The decision as to what college to attend is not to be taken lightly. Don't just go to a college just because your friends are going there or they have a good football team. Strive to challenge yourself and pick a school that has your own interests in mind. I made a terrible decision when I graduated high school and attended a huge, division one college that I loathed in the first week. I dropped out, applied, and started over in a much different school, Washington & Jefferson, and fell in love with the campus and the people there. Don't worry about your friends or the challenges that come with an academically driven school. New friends will be made within the first weeks of your freshman year and having high academic goals is actually a good thing. College is a time to have fun, get involved, and mature into the adult. The college you choose will end up affecting who you become. I made the greatest decision to leave the college I hated and attend W&J. I have friends that will last a lifetime and an education impresses employers.

Going back in time I would have only one suggestion for myself. Since high school was extremely easy for me, I didn't develop any time managment or study skills. Once in college, I realized how important these skills are to my education a little too late. By not having ever developed these crucial skills, I quickly fell behind, causing myself much more work to catch up and save my grades. It is still a challenge to know exactly how to study, however now that it is obvious that college requires much more preparation for exams than did high school, I can better prepare myself. However, given the oppertunity I would recommend to myself to take more college classes at the local college while in high school to challenge myself and buffer the shock of needing to study.

I would tell my high school self to expect the unexpected. Expect to meet and live with people from all walks of life who most likely will not share the same views and customs you do. Expect your professors to range from the incredibly kind and helpful to the evil troll. Expect a difficult workload, far more difficult than you ever experienced in high school. Above all else, expect to need help... and seek it often. Anticipate the worst but hope for the best and expect everything in between.

When trying to decide which college is right for a particular student, that student must first decide what attributes are the most important to him/her. Never pick a college based solely on the athletic teams. There must be a fair balance between the athletic and academic fit of a college. The most important thing for me, when I was deciding on a college, was the size. The entire time I was applying to college I believed that I wanted to go to a large campus with tons of people to meet and friends to make, but when I visited Washington and Jefferson, I realized that a small campus was a better fit for me. I love the personal attention that small classes give as well the friendly atmosphere of a small campus. The message here is that you need to decide what characteristics you desire in your college and find the college that best meets these characteristics.

Figure out what you want from the school, like what you want to major in, what kind of social scene there is, and if it is the right size for you. Next go on a lot of visits, to see if you like the campus atmosphere, and could be comfortable there, then apply to your favorites and make your decision based on how you feel, because for the student, this is your decision, and it will affect you for the rest of your life, so make sure you choose the right one.

Parents: Do not pressure your kids to stay close to home, move far away, or go to the school that you graduated from. It is their decision and future and it's time for them to start making their own decisions about life. Help them make the choice by having a pro and con list for each school they are applying to or want to apply to. Students: College is all about learning. Learning about yourself, course material, friends, who will really be there for you and how you want your life to be. Your parents didn't lie to you when the told you it will be the time of your life, but you have to realize early that it isn't all about partying, what fraternity you went to last night, what guy seems interested in you, and who's wearing what. Yes, have your fun but never make it a priority over your studies. This isn't high school anymore, it is much different. You have so much freedom and everything you do is because YOU decided to do it. Carry that responsibility and make good decisions. The decisions you make now impact you in the future.

Finding the right college can be a difficult procees. My clear cut advice is to ingore statistics that could sway students and increase a colleges numbers. The best way to pick what college is right for you is to visit the college. You need to be able to see for yourself exactly what the college is like. Sit in on a class if possible. Learn exactly what the college can offer you. When all that is done, the decision comes down to where you fit in best. If a college looks good on paper, but you don't feel like you belong there, then you probably shouldn't be there. To make the most of your college experience is as simple as getting involved. Many colleges have an activities fair in the beginning of the year. Sign up for whatever interests you. This is how you will meet your lasting friends. You may sign up for four or five activities, but end up sticking with one or two. This is a good thing as your face will be seen in many places and people will learn who you are and what you stand for. Most importantly, you should have fun.

Choose somewhere you're comfortable first. Stay over night there, if you have a good time, you'll likely enjoy your time at the school. The microcosm that you experience during your short pre-college stay, wherever that might be, will accurately reflect how your entire college experience will be. If you feel comfortable and happy at more than one place, then worry about academics. This sounds backwards, but if you're not comfortable there socially, you won't do well academically and you won't have a good time. You will never remember if you got a C or a B in organic chemistry 10 years later. But you will remember the times you went to walmart at 2am with your friends and bought unnecessary things. You will remember going to eat all-you-can-eat wings with your fraternity brothers and the times spent talking until the wee hours of the morning about odd, pointless topics with your best friends in your dorm. I'm not saying party all the time and don't study. I'm saying study hard, relax and make friends, and create memories you will never forget. You're only 18-21 once.

You will sense the right college. Don't go by how much you can afford. There is never a price to put on your college education.

Ranks change, don't get too caught up in them. Find a school that feels right. Four years will go by fast at the right school, but friends will be forged and mentors made. The best schools won't forget you just because you graduated.