Washington & Jefferson College Top Questions

This question is actually a two part question so I will answer as if it were two questions. First the advise I would give the parent of any perspecitve college student is to let the young bird fly. After 17 or 18 years hands on parenting, caring and nurturing the child you were blessed with your job discription is about to change. You are beginning a new season in your relationship with your son/daughter. During the college years you will see your young person grow from a child to a adult. Stand back, encourage but dont rescue, and enjoy the fruit of your hard work an adult child. To the students my advise would be to ask questions, lots of questions. Dont be affraid to ask for help. I started at Washington and Jefferson with 60 college credits under my belt from high school AP classes. I thought I would have no problems at all because of my experiences. Well, pride came before a fall and I found myslef more lost than I ever was in my life. I couldnt get it together at all and it took weeks of hard ajustment. Be patient it will fall into place.

Look at more then one sourse of information. I got a "The 200 Best Colleges In the Country" book and found out, after reading it from cover to cover, that they meant the best party schools and did not have any information on the private schools across the nation. Keep your mind open and do all the research you can.

I would tell parents and students to visit many different types of colleges and universities. Go to both urban and rural settings. Go to both small and large colleges. Try to experience a typical day in the life of a student at that institution. I know that I was completely undecided as to what type of school I wanted to attend. After visiting many different types of schools, I realized that I like a small, liberal arts college best. I encourage all students to visit colleges when class is in session, not over the summer or during student breaks. Sit in on classes to learn more about the faculty and teaching styles available. Most importantly, take advantage of a school's offers to stay overnight with a student in a dorm room and go to class with them the next day. That is the best way to see what the school is really like and to see if you can picture yourself as a student there. Get to know a student at that institution, and don't be afraid to email them with questions that you may think of later. They're more willing to help than you think!